Abstract: Process for melting a metal charge in a rotary furnace equipped with at least one oxygen burner, comprising the steps of:(i) adding between 1.5 and 9% of a charge of solid fuel to the metal charge to form a combined charge; and(ii) injecting at least one jet of oxygen in a direction of the combined charge in the furnace.

Abstract: Provided is a method for improving energy input in heating and melting of a scrap bulk. The method includes burning a channel into a scrap bulk with hot, oxygen-containing gas jet. Additional energy for the heating and melting of the scrap bulk is then input through this channel.

Abstract: In a process for the reduction of fine ore by reducing gas in the fluidized bed method, the following characteristic features are realized in order to achieve a uniform and even degree of metallization at optimum utilization of the reducing gas and while minimizing the amount of reducing gas employed, that the fine ore is fractionated by aid of the reducing gas into at least two fractions having different grain size distributions, that each fraction is reduced by the reducing gas in a separate fluidized bed, wherein the reducing gas maintains a first fluidized bed containing the coarse-grain fraction and separates the fine-grain fraction from the same, is accelerated together with the fine-grain fraction, subsequently under pressure release forms a further fluidized bed, into which it is continuously injected in a radially symmetrical manner and from below, and wherein, furthermore, secondary reducing gas additionally is directly injected into the further fluidized bed in a radially symmetrical manner, and th

Abstract: Described herein is an Improved Converter System designed to help reduce air, land and water pollution by completely converting materials that presently cause pollution into clean burning fuels and a host of other products beneficial to mankind. The primary conversion unit in the system is a zone controlled multipurpose slagging-ash oxygen jet blast converter. All incoming materials are passed through this process computer aided talented offspring of its two ancient prototypes the blast furnace and slagging-ash gas producers and the zone controlled blast furnaces described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,381,938, 4,495,054, 3,928,023 and 3,814,404. It employs two sets of tuyeres located in the bosh to input endothermic reacting gases, vapors and dusts through tuyere sets T1 and T2. A 100% oxygen jet blast is also input through tuyere set T2.

Abstract: A metal volatilization process is described in which metal oxide pieces in a reaction chamber are reduced to form reduced metal and at least a portion of that metal is volatilized and used for coating a variety of substrates, including those which are susceptible to heat damage. The metal oxides formed must have curved surfaces which maintain a non-zero contact angle with their support during reduction. Preferably the reduction phase is preceded by an oxidation phase which is conducted in the same chamber, and uses as the starting materials oxidizable metal pieces which also are curved to maintain a non-zero contact angle with the support, so that general curved shapes will be maintained throughout the oxidation and reduction phases of the process. Vacuum is unnecessary, and the process can be operated at ambient pressures.

Abstract: A condensation chamber and method for condensing a metal connate from a metal rich gaseous mixture. The condensation chamber includes top and sidewall surfaces that together define a central bore. A gas supply is received in the bore, and as the gas begins to cool, a metal connate condensate forms on the surfaces of the condensation chamber. A moveable surface is received in the bore for removing the connate from the surfaces adjacent the bore. To facilitate removal of the connate, the surfaces adjacent the bore are heated to ensure that the connate remains substantially in the liquid state while in the condensation chamber. The moveable surface helps direct the connate into a cooling chamber supported by the condensation chamber. In the cooling chamber, the connate is cooled to a plastic state. The cooled connate may be formed into pellets and stored for later use.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for working up combustion residues or slags from waste incineration plants or steel works slags in a converter by reacting the molten slag with a metal bath while injecting carbon and oxygen into the metal bath. The converter is subdivided into three adjacent openly communicating zones. An afterburning zone including at least one lance for afterburning directed onto the slag bath is arranged in the vicinity of the slag feed. The lance generates a circulating flow above the slag bath. Following the afterburning zone, a metal bath sump zone is formed for reacting the metal bath with the slag bath. Next, a settling zone is formed, from which the hot combustion gases and the slag melt are drawn off.

Abstract: Silicon-containing residues, as they accumulate especially during the synthesis of organosilanes out of metallic silicon, and especially methyl chloride, are processed according to the invention to briquettes, being additives for the quality adjustment of cast iron being produced in a cupola furnace in order to avoid either costly regeneration for the recovering of the valuable components or the total dumping of said silicon-containing residues. Besides the silicon-containing residue the briquettes contain 1-10 percent by weight of cardboard fiber, 5-40 percent by weight of hydraulic cement and 0-20 percent by weight of additional additives having influence on the quality of the cast iron. The cement- and cardboard fiber-containing briquettes are mechanically and thermally sufficiently stable with respect to the operation of the melting furnace. The yielding rate of the inserted small-sized silicon in the cast iron is about 85% and reaches thereby the same range of lumpy ferrosilicon.

Abstract: A method for heating and/or melting a charge such as aluminum in a furnace using heat generated by combustion to radiatively heat the charge through a layer of protective gas wherein combustion reaction products generated by the combustion are exhausted from a lower level within the furnace, and, during melting, the protective gas layer has a higher upper boundary than during a subsequent heating period, enabling reduced NO.sub.x generation, lower fuel and oxygen consumption and reduced refractory corrosion by avoiding furnace gas flow through the high temperature upper furnace region.

Abstract: A process for blowing oxygen-containing gas, with and without solid material, on a metal melt in a metallurgical vessel, a process for generating a burner flame and corresponding devices. The inventive process and lance suitable for such process provides, without structural conversion and by a simple design, various different process steps in the treatment of metal melts in a metallurgical vessel while increasing the insertion rates of the individual media. This is accomplished using a multifunctional lance in which the process of blowing oxygen with and without solids, and the generation of a burner flame may be performed independently from one another. The individual supply lines are connected in a corresponding manner depending on the respective process step. In the process for blowing oxygen-containing gas, vibrations are excited in the gas flow in a relatively simple manner.

Abstract: A process for facilitating the removal of impurities e.g. radionuclides, such as uranium and thorium, and/or one or more of their radionuclide daughters, from titaniferous material includes contacting the titaniferous material with one or more reagents at an elevated temperature selected to enhance the accessibility of at least one of the radionuclide daughters in the titaniferous material. The reagent(s) may be a glass forming reagent and is selected to form a phase at the elevated temperature which disperses onto the surfaces of the titaniferous material and incorporates the radionuclides and one or more radionuclide daughter. The titaniferous material may be, e.g., ilmenite, reduced ilmenite, altered ilmenite or synthetic rutile.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for processing a shredder light fraction including multi-duct nozzle having at least an end section positionable within a metallurgical vessel containing a molten metal bath. The shredder light fraction may be fed into the molten metal bath while using only small quantities of carrier gas, e.g., air or nitrogen, and protective gas, e.g., hydrocarbon or inert gas. The shredder light fraction and the carrier gas may be injected into the molten metal bath as a main jet and oxygen may also be injected into the molten metal bath as a secondary jet. The primary jet and the secondary jet may be surrounded by a gas jet formed by the protective gas being injected into the molten metal bath.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a molten steel refining method for refining molten steel, the carbon content of which is not more than 0.1 weight %, by blowing oxygen gas for decarburization at a blowing speed so that a cavity, the depth of which is 150 to 400 mm, can be formed on the surface of molten steel in a straight barrel type vacuum refining apparatus in which a straight barrel type vacuum vessel having no vessel bottom and a ladle are arranged.

Abstract: Synthetic Rutile is prepared from raw ilmenite ore by a method comprising activating ilmenite and subjecting it to a multi-stage countercurrent leaching process in hot hydrochloric acid.

Abstract: In this invention, the smelting reduction operation can be carried out in a high efficiency by charging a carbonaceous material in such an amount that total surface area is not less than 60 m.sup.2 per 1 ton of slag weight. Carbon substance finely particulating through thermal crumbling under a high-temperature atmosphere inside the vessel is used as the carbonaceous material, whereby it is possible to stably conduct the smelting reduction while controlling the scattering of the carbonaceous material, and also the erosion, particularly locally erosion of refractory in the smelting reduction furnace, which was a serious problem in the conventional technique, can considerably be decreased to largely prolong the service life of refractory.

Abstract: A melting furnace for reforming steel-making slag so as to be available, for example, to roadbed ballast by mixing steel-making dust with the slag in molten states, which is provided with a fuel oxygen burner for melting the slag and the dust, a slag charging port for charging the slag in molten state into the furnace, a dust feeder for supplying the dust into the furnace, a slag feeder for supplying the slag in powdered state into the furnace, a storage portion for storing a molten mixture of the slag and the dust in a quantity corresponding to a tilting angle of the furnace body and an outlet port for discharging the molten mixture, and is possible to dispose the slag efficiently whether the slag is in the powdered or molten state.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for efficiently dephosphorizing, dephosphorizing and decarbonizing, or desulfurizing, dephosphorizing and decarbonizing a hot metal in a converter. The amount of flux to be charged and the amount of bottom-blown gas are adjusted so that the bottom-blowing agitation power and the CaO/SiO.sub.2 ratio subsequent to the treatment become at least 0.1 kW/ton and from 0.7 to 2.5, respectively and the hot metal temperature at the treatment end point becomes from 1,200.degree. to 1,450.degree. C. Furthermore, the operation of the process is controlled so that the sum of a T.Fe concentration and a MnO concentration in the slag subsequent to the treatment becomes from 10 to 35% by weight by adjusting the top-blown oxygen feed rate, the flow rate of bottom-blown gas or the top-blowing lance height.

Abstract: A process for refining high-impurity blister copper to anode quality copper is disclosed. In an oxidation step of a blister copper refining stage, soda ash fluxing removes antimony and arsenic while also removing sulfur and iron. In a deoxidation step of the blister copper refining stage, sulfur hexafluoride is injected at a controlled oxygen concentration to remove bismuth while reducing the oxygen content. Slag is continuously or periodically skimmed from the surface of the molten blister copper to prevent re-entry of impurities. The process may be carried out in batch operation or, in a preferred embodiment, in continuous flow-through operation.

Abstract: In a method of recycling iron and steel industry waste by processing the waste as an object substance by the use of a rotary kiln, the object substance is changed into a valuable material while the object substance travels within the rotary kiln from an upstream side to a downstream side. The object substance is heated on the upstream side of the rotary kiln within a reducing atmosphere to be reduced and molten into a reduced and molten product. The reduced and molten product is quickly sent to the downstream side without being adhered to an internal wall of the rotary kiln. The valuable material is extracted from the reduced and molten product which may be directly discharged out of the rotary kiln or which may be discharged after the reduced and molten product is once kept in a basin formed in the vicinity of the downstream side of the rotary kiln.

Abstract: A method for introducing gas into a liquid wherein a gas stream is ejected from a lance spaced above the liquid surface and directed from the lance onto the liquid surface. The gas retains substantially all its original jet axis velocity when it contacts the liquid surface, and substantially all of the gas penetrates the liquid surface and is introduced into the liquid. Preferably the gas stream is surrounded by a flame envelope running from the lance to the liquid surface, which shields the gas from ambient gas entrainment. The gas stream preferably forms a gas cavity within the liquid having a diameter substantially the same as the diameter of the gas stream as it is ejected from the lance.

Abstract: A process of producing metal from a metal ore containing metal oxides includes the steps of: obtaining a reducing gas containing at least one of carbon and hydrogen from solid substances containing at least one of carbon and hydrocarbons; bringing the ore into reaction contact with the reducing gas in a metallurgical blast furnace; and injecting a comminuted, fluidized plastics material into a blast current in a hearth region of the blast furnace, the plastics material comprising an agglomerate including plastics particles having a particle size substantially between 1 mm and 10 mm.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for recovering solder from dross. Dross is poured into a heated chamber (1). The heated dross is then compressed by a piston (21) to force good solder out of the dross into a collecting tray (17).

Abstract: This process comprises; mixing (1) the solid residues with a solid reducing agent; treating (2) the mixture in a furnace at a temperature above 1000.degree. C. to obtain (3) a vitrified product rendered poor in metals and an emission of gas enriched in metallic elements in a vapour phase; air quenching (4) the gases rich in metals; filtering (5) the products resulting from the air quenching to obtain secondary ashes rich in metallic salts; at the end of the filtering operation, washing the smoke (6) for discharging it to the atmosphere; and subjecting the secondary ashes rich in metallic salts to a treatment for producing a product rich in valuable metals (7 to 10).

Abstract: A multiple stage process for obtaining Ni units from Ni laterite ores and sulfur-bearing Ni concentrates during production of nickel-alloyed iron, nickel-alloyed steel or nickel-alloyed stainless steel in a reactor equipped with top- and bottom-blowing means. Dried Ni laterite ore is charged into an iron/slag bath mixture containing dissolved carbon and a metalloid reductant such as aluminum or silicon. The laterite ore is melted while heat is generated by oxidation of the metalloid and carbon in the reactor. After the laterite ore is melted, top-blowing of pure oxygen and bottom-blowing of an oxygen-containing gas are ceased. Bottom injection of an inert stirring gas is begun. A sulfur-bearing Ni concentrate and aluminum are added to the bath.

Abstract: The present invention is an improvement to the earth melter described and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,443,618. The improvement is the use of rubble for retaining walls. More specifically, the retaining walls rest on ground level and extend above ground level piling rubble around a melt zone. A portion of the melter may be below grade wherein sidewalls are formed by the relatively undisturbed native soil or rock, and the rubble may be used as a backfill liner for the below grade sidewalls.

Abstract: A method of injecting gas-supersaturated fluids as a bubble-free effluent from a delivery system into a relatively low pressure, gas-depleted environment without cavitation or bubble formation. The method includes the steps of eliminating cavitation nuclei from within the delivery system, compressing a fluid and a gas at a high partial pressure to form a gas-supersaturated fluid, and ejecting the gas-supersaturated fluid through the delivery system into the environment without associated cavitation formation in the effluent.

Abstract: Tungsten carbide cobalt and tungsten-containing materials are recycled using a single high-temperature oxidation with standard dilution chemistry. The scrap material is ground, oxidized, and subjected to an acid digestion, preferably in hydrochloric acid. This causes the cobalt to form cobalt chloride while the tungsten remains insoluble. The pH is then increased to about 7.0 which causes the cobalt chloride to form cobalt hydroxide which precipitates out of solution. The cobalt and tungsten are separated and dissolved in a high-pH ammonia solution which can then be spray dried to form a precursor powder for subsequent carburization to form tungsten carbide-cobalt powders.

Abstract: Charging device for supplying liquid metal to an electric furnace with a shaft 15, the device consisting of a balcony 19 extending the shaft 15 of the furnace 10 laterally and communicating with the hearth of the furnace 10.

Abstract: The invention relates to a furnace (1) for melting metal-bearing substances and/or production of liquid metal (4) of the type in which said metal (4) has above it a layer of slag (5) liable to be affected by a "foaming" phenomenon, in which a side wall of said furnace comprises an orifice (17) opening into an adjacent tank (22) capped with a vault (25), said tank (22) being capable of collecting a proportion of said slag (5) by overflowing through said orifice (17) when said foaming phenomenon takes on proportions that risk causing damage to said furnace (1).The invention also relates to a process for the production of liquid metal employing such a furnace.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for performing a metallurgical process in which a carbonaceous material is converted to a reducing gas and a metal is melted in a main reactor, particulate coal is partially oxidized in a secondary reactor to form a particulate char and a calorific gas under conditions which minimize the formation of carbon monoxide, and at least part of the char and some of the calorific gas are introduced into the main reactor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for melting or processing metal. The metal material is batched into a chamber (1) and circulated from one chamber to another (3, 5, 10, 11, 15, 18) with simultaneous melting under the effect of thermal radiation from the chamber lids. One or more pumps act on the pressure above the molten metal in one or more pump chambers (10, 11), connected with a melt chamber (5) and with a splash chamber (18, 15), from where the melt is discharged or recycled. The object of the invention is to upgrade melt quality by reducing turbulence in the melt chambers. This object has been achieved by transferring, at an increased pressure in the pump chamber, a substantially greater amount, approx. three to fifteen times more melt per time unit from each pump chamber (10, 11) to the splash chamber (18, 15) than from the same pump chamber to the splash chamber (5).

Abstract: A process for facilitating the removal of impurities e.g. radionuclides, such as uranium and thorium, and/or one or more of their radionuclide daughters, from titaniferous material includes contacting the titaniferous material with one or more reagents at an elevated temperature selected to enhance the accessibility of at least one of the radionuclide daughters in the titaniferous material. The reagent(s) may be a glass forming reagent and is selected to form a phase at the elevated temperature which disperses onto the surfaces of the titaniferous material and incorporates the radionuclides and one or more radionuclide daughters. The titaniferous material may be, e.g., ilmenite, reduced ilmenite, altered ilmenite or synthetic rutile.

Abstract: Method of reducing metal oxide in a rotary hearth furnace (14) to make a feed stock for a refining vessel when manufacturing alloyed iron, alloyed steel or stainless steel. The rotary hearth furnace includes an annular inner refractory wall (32), an annular outer refractory wall (34), an annular refractory platform (33) between the two walls. Stationary fuel burners (36, 40) are mounted to walls (32, 34) at a position just above an upper surface of the platform. A mixture of a metal oxide and a carbonaceous reductant is placed onto the upper surface of the platform and rotated past the burners. The oxide is heated by an oxidizing flame. Thereafter, a second layer of a reductant is charged over the hot first layer, and both layers are heated for an additional period of time to a temperature of at least 1300.degree. C. to reduce the metal oxide. The metal oxide may be chromium ore, chromium ore concentrate, nickel ore, nickel ore concentrate and stainless steel flue dust. The reductant may be coal or coke.

Abstract: A process of continuous metal refinement comprising feeding molten metal to a reaction chamber, introducing gaseous and solid oxidants, adding bulk materials, fully converting the metal and slag into a foamy emulsion, creating, in the reaction chamber, an increased pulsating pressure and a considerable deviation of a system from thermodynamic equilibrium by way of creating a self-organizing system of chemical reaction with gas evolution and taking off the emulsion into a refining sump at the critical speed of egress of two-phase liquid, separating the metal and slag in said refining sump and withdrawing the gas through a high layer of emulsion at a definite rate.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for condensing to the liquid state vapors of a metal having a melting point of between 500.degree. and 850.degree. C. in a double envelope container. The pressures between the two faces of the inner envelope of the container are adjusted to be in equilibrium, and the outer face of the inner envelope is cooled in such a way as to keep the inner face temperature substantially constant in the vicinity of the solidification temperature of the metal. The invention is applicable in particular to condensing magnesium vapors.

Abstract: A high-speed jet of liquid oxygen (21) with a speed higher than 100 meters per second is delivered into the tuyeres of a blast furnace of cupola furnace together with pulverised carbon. The jet reaches the opposite wall of the cavity (9) formed at the outlet of the tuyere (6) in the mass of material contained in the shaft. Supplying oxygen to the bottom of the cavity improves the burning of the remaining coal, whereby higher injection levels may be achieved. The shape of the cavity may also be altered, and, in particular, faster reactions may be achieved in the axial region of the shaft.

Abstract: In a process for the continuous melting down of scrap metal, in particular of bales of scrap metal, which contain residual plastic materials, the scrap metal being fed to a melt-down reactor (1) and the heat required to melt this down being obtained by direct heating from below, using burners that are arranged close to the tapping point, the process is managed in the melt-down reactor (1) as a reducing process; part of the process gases is returned to the melt-down reactor (1) as combustion gas after utilization of the sensible heat and purification; the remaining portion is passed out as output gas. This makes it possible to operate without oversize gas purification systems when melting down scrap metal that contains plastic, and to utilize the pyrolysed substances that are contained in the working material to good effect.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of metal alloys, metal oxides and slag-based products, such as mineral wool, from industrial waste materials. More specifically, the present invention relates to a process for recycling industrial waste materials into valuable commercial products, including, pure metals, metal alloys, metal oxides, and a molten slag comprising non-reducible metal oxides which thereafter can be converted to vitreous fiber and shot. Industrial waste materials suitable for use in the present invention include metal-containing waste products, particularly inorganic hazardous waste materials. The present process accomplishes total recycling in such a manner that the entire industrial waste material is consumed and converted to useful products.

Abstract: A method of reducing metal oxides in a vessel containing a molten bath, the bath comprising a metal layer and a slag layer, wherein metal oxides and carbonaceous material are introduced into the bath, gas is injected into the slag layer to case the eruption of molten slag parts, droplets and/or streams into the gas space above the bath and oxygen-containing gas is injected into the gas space to case post-combustion.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for forming metallized iron by direct reduction of particulate iron oxide is disclosed. Spent reducing gas is recycled from the reduction furnace through a cooler-scrubber and a catalyst-containing stoichiometric gas reformer. Upon removing the process gas from the cooler-scrubber, it is contacted with a chlorine dioxide spray, then compressed and cooled, the sulfur compound removed, and the process gas recycled either into the furnace cooling zone, or directly into the reformer, or divided and directed into both uses. Thus, most of the sulfur containing components of the spent reducing gas are removed, thereby reducing the sulfur contamination of the gas reformer catalyst. Reducing sulfur contamination of the gas reformer catalyst improves the overall efficiency of the direct reduction process. Either high sulfur ores, or high sulfur process gas, or both can be utilized in the invented process.

Abstract: An apparatus, and method of operating the apparatus, wherein a feed material is converted into a glassified condition for subsequent use or disposal. The apparatus is particularly useful for disposal of hazardous or noxious waste materials which are otherwise either difficult or expensive to dispose of. The apparatus is preferably constructed either by excavating a melt zone in a quantity of soil or rock, or by constructing a melt zone in an apparatus above grade and lining the melt zone with a back fill material if refractory properties are needed. The feed material is fed into the melt zone and, preferably, combusted to an ash, whereupon the heat of combustion is used to melt the ash to a molten condition. Electrodes may be used to maintain the molten feed material in a molten condition, and to maintain homogeneity of the molten materials.

Abstract: Continuous melting of lightweight shredded metal, e.g., in the recycling of aluminum can scrap is achieved by feeding lightweight scrap portions into a melting chamber through which a heated gas stream flows upwardly at a temperature in excess of the metal melting point and at such velocity that the scrap portions are borne in the flow within the chamber until they melt into denser droplets or globules which drop from the chamber and are collected in a holding furnace.

Abstract: A tuyere for refining molten metals or melting metal scrap or oxides charged into a vessel. The tuyere comprises three concentric pipes of copper or stainless steel encased in refractory. An annular stream of natural gas surrounds an annular stream of oxygen which in turn surrounds a core stream of natural gas. All three streams are expanded as they flow through the tuyere and as a result an accretion forms at the tip of the tuyere. The accretion protects the tuyere and the gas streams are controlled so that the accretion is maintained at a desired size which neither blocks the tuyere, nor permits burnback of the pipes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for blowing oxidizing gases into molten metal located in a reaction vessel having tuyeres below the metal bath surface, whereby the oxidizing gases are blown into the molten metal from these tuyeres and fed to the tuyeres at an inlet pressure between 85 bars and 170 bars.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a process for cooling and purifying hot, dust-laden flue gases enriched with dioxins and other toxic components from a melting vessel, e.g., an arc furnace.Both the flue gases A, B generated during charging and those generated during the melting operation are collected, and the toxic components are removed in two ways.The flue gases A collected in the exhaust hoods 2 are fed into the filter 6, while previously blowing an additive 12, on which the toxic components settle before reaching the filter bags, into the flue gas stream A.The hot flue gases B drawn off directly from the arc furnace 1 are introduced into a combustion chamber 3 after passing through a water-cooled section 4, and are subjected to afterburning in the combustion chamber 3 to remove the toxic pollutants. These gases are then intermediately cooled in a second, water-cooled section 5, further cooled by adding more additional cold air A, and fed into the filter 7.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of melting a metal. In a melting furnace, a metallic material is melted by heating it directly with the flame from a fuel burner using an oxygen gas having a purity of 60 to 100% as a combustion assisting gas. Meanwhile, the combustion assisting gas is heated before it is fed to the burner.

Abstract: A dual zone chemical reactor continuously processes metal-containing materials while regenerating and circulating a liquid carrier. The starting materials are fed into a first reaction zone of a vessel containing a molten salt carrier. The starting materials react to form a metal product and a by-product that dissolves in the molten salt that flows to a second reaction zone in the reaction vessel. The second reaction zone is partitioned from, but in fluid communication with, the first reaction zone. The liquid carrier continuously circulates along a pathway between the first reaction zone and the second reaction zone. A reactive gas is introduced into the second reaction zone to react with the reaction by-product to generate the molten salt. The metal product, the gaseous waste products, and the excess liquid carrier are removed without interrupting the operation of the reactor.

Abstract: An elongate lance (4) is raised or lowered by means of a carnage (7) which is guided by vertical channels (8). The lance has lateral projections (18) whereby it is supported in a cradle (17) mounted to carriage (7) via springs (29). The apparatus permits the lance lower end (12) to be submerged in bath (3) and permits restricted lateral movement of the lance lower end.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of melting a metal, which can demonstrate improved heat efficiency, increased yield and minimized pollutive gas generation. In this method, a metallic material stacked in a melting furnace is melted by heating it directly with the flame from a fuel burner using an oxygen gas having a purity of 60 to 100% as a combustion assisting gas. The oxygen gas is burned at an oxygen-to-fuel ratio of 0.55 to 0.99, while the unburned portion of the combustion gas is allowed to burn by O.sub.2 supplied separately through oxygen lances. Meanwhile, the metallic material is preheated by burning the unburned portion of the combustion gas, whereas the combustion assisting gas is heated before it is fed to the burner.

Abstract: An environmentally sound process is described for the remediation of waste materials that allows the separation, recovery and decontamination of metals. The method includes chemically reducing essentially all of a reducible toxic and potentially hazardous metal-containing component of a waste composition. The waste is directed into a molten metal bath, including a first reducing agent which, under the operating conditions of the molten metal bath, chemically reduces a metal of the metal-containing component to form a dissolved intermediate. A second reducing agent is directed into the molten metal bath. The second reducing agent, under the operations of the molten metal bath, chemically reduces the metal of the dissolved intermediate.