Abstract: Composite electrodes are described herein, comprising a stainless steel substrate and silicon-containing nanostructures extending from the substrate, as well as processes for preparing such electrodes without requiring a catalyst by pre-treatment of the steel. At least a portion of the silicon-containing nanostructures are characterized by: being substantially devoid of a non-silicon catalyst material and/or a noble metal; and/or including along its length a metal constituent originating from the steel substrate; and/or including a metal silicide extending from the substrate and along at least a portion of its length; and/or being fused with at least one other silicon-containing nanostructure at a location removed from a surface of the substrate to form a sponge-like three-dimensional structure; and/or being stainless steel nanostructures having a layer of silicon disposed thereon.

Abstract: Methods for producing final bodies that contain a fine-grained refractory complex concentrated alloy (RCCA), as well as RCCAs, intermediate materials and final bodies containing the RCCAs, and high-temperature devices formed by such final bodies. Such a method includes providing a precursor with one or more precursor compounds containing elements of an RCCA, reducing the precursor compounds in the precursor via reaction with a reducing agent so as to generate the RCCA and a compound comprising a product of the reaction between the reducing agent and the precursor compounds, generating a solid material that contains at least the RCCA, forming with the solid material a porous intermediate body, and consolidating the porous intermediate body so as to partially or completely remove the pore volume from the porous intermediate body, and in doing so yield either a denser final body or a denser film.

Abstract: The present invention relates to techniques for producing 2024 and 7075 aluminum alloys by recycling waste aircraft aluminum alloys, which belong to technical fields for circular economy. The present invention develops techniques for obtaining the 2024 and 7075 aluminum alloys by subjecting waste aircraft aluminum alloys as raw materials to pretreatment, smelting, impurity removal, melt ingredient assay, ingredient adjustment, refining, and casting. Through utilizing the waste package aluminum alloys and the waste aluminum pop-top cans to adjust the ingredients, the waste aircraft aluminum alloys would be recycled at a lower cost without downgrading. The present invention has some advantages, such as low cost, and applicability for industrial production, as well as prominent economic benefit.

Abstract: A process for recovering copper from copper sulfide minerals, the method comprising the steps of leaching copper sulfide minerals with an aqueous solution of ammonium chloride containing cupric chloride at a temperature of between about 40° C. and about 95° C. at atmospheric pressure, to produce a solution of cuprous/cupric chloride.

Abstract: A method of sorting mined material for subsequent processing to recover valuable material, such as valuable metals, from the mined material is disclosed. The method includes a combination of selective breakage of mined material, for example, by using microwaves and/or high pressure grinding rolls, subsequent size separation, and then particle sorting of a coarse fraction of the separated material based on differential heating and thermal imaging.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a ferroalloy containing nickel. From a fine-grained raw material containing iron and chromium and a fine-grained raw material containing nickel, a mixture is formed with binding agent, the mixture is agglomerated so that first formed objects of desired size are obtained. The objects formed are heat treated in order to strengthen the objects so that the heat treated objects withstand conveyance and loading into a smelter furnace. Further, the objects are smelted under reducing circumstances in order to achieve ferrochromenickel, a ferroalloy of a desired composition containing at least iron, chromium and nickel.

Abstract: A method for recycling metals from waste molybdic catalysts, comprises steps of leaching, by soaking a waste molybdic catalyst into a highly oxidized acid and conducting a reaction between sulfur in the waste molybdic catalyst and the acid to obtain sulfide and vaporizer, wherein metals in the waste molybdic catalyst are dissolved and oxidized by the acid to obtain a first solution and dregs; and refining, by further dissolving metals in the dregs into a second solution, and extracting metals in the waste molybdic catalyst from the first and second solution; wherein, the vaporizer obtained from the step of leaching is converted into highly oxidized acid and recycled in the step of leaching.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide a process roasting a metal bearing material under oxidizing conditions to produce an oxidized metal bearing material, roasting the oxidized metal bearing material under reducing conditions to produce a roasted metal bearing material, and leaching the roasted metal bearing material in a basic medium to yield a pregnant leach solution.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to collect a scarce metal such as iridium from a light-emitting element which is no longer used. A method for collecting a metal is provided in which an organic metal compound which can emit visible light from a triplet excited state at room temperature is heated, or an EL layer of a light-emitting layer containing an organic metal compound which can emit visible light from a triplet excited state at room temperature is dissolved in a solvent to form a solution, and the solution is heated, irradiated with microwaves or treated with acid water. According to the above method, resources of metals such as iridium or platinum, which are scarce metals, can be utilized efficiently.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing sponge titanium, which includes the following steps: Step A: placing aluminum into a resistance furnace, vacuum pumping, introducing inert gas, heating to molten aluminum; Step B: opening a reactor cover, adding a proper amount of potassium fluotitanate to a reactor, leakage detecting after closing the reactor cover, slowly raising the temperature to 150° C., vacuum pumping, and continuously heating to 250° C.; Step C: introducing inert gas into the reactor, continuously raising the temperature to 750° C., stirring uniformly; Step D: opening a valve to adjust the stirring speed, adding molten aluminum drops, and controlling the reaction temperature to 750° C. to 850° C.; Step E: opening the reactor cover, removing a stirring device, eliminating the upper layer of KAlF4 to obtain sponge titanium. The present invention has the beneficial effects of short process flow, low cost, environmental protection and harmlessness.

Abstract: A method for recycling metals from waste tungsten catalysts comprises steps of: leaching, by soaking a waste tungsten catalysts into a highly oxidized acid and conducting a reaction between sulfur of the waste tungsten catalysts and the acid to obtain sulfide and oxidized dianions, wherein metals in the waste tungsten catalysts are dissolved and oxidized by the acid to obtain a first solution and dregs; and refining, by extracting metals of the waste tungsten catalysts from the first solution; wherein, the oxidized dianions obtained from the step of leaching is converted into highly oxidized acid, which is capable of being recycled.

Abstract: A method for recycling metals from waste molybdic catalysts, comprises steps of leaching, by soaking a waste molybdic catalyst into a highly oxidized acid and conducting a reaction between sulfur in the waste molybdic catalyst and the acid to obtain sulfide and vaporizer, wherein metals in the waste molybdic catalyst are dissolved and oxidized by the acid to obtain a first solution and dregs; and refining, by further dissolving metals in the dregs into a second solution, and extracting metals in the waste molybdic catalyst from the first and second solution; wherein, the vaporizer obtained from the step of leaching is converted into highly oxidized acid and recycled in the step of leaching.

Abstract: A method of sorting mined material for subsequent processing to recover valuable material, such as valuable metals, from the mined material is disclosed. The method includes a combination of selective breakage of mined material, for example, by using microwaves and/or high pressure grinding rolls, subsequent size separation, and then particle sorting of a coarse fraction of the separated material based on differential heating and thermal imaging.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to collect a scarce metal such as iridium from a light-emitting element which is no longer used. A method for collecting a metal is provided in which an organic metal compound which can emit visible light from a triplet excited state at room temperature is heated, or an EL layer of a light-emitting layer containing an organic metal compound which can emit visible light from a triplet excited state at room temperature is dissolved in a solvent to form a solution, and the solution is heated, irradiated with microwaves or treated with acid water. According to the above method, resources of metals such as iridium or platinum, which are scarce metals, can be utilized efficiently.

Abstract: A process for producing a metallic nickel product with a low iron content, that includes: (i) providing an acidic product liquor; (ii) subjecting the acidic product liquor to an ion exchange process to absorb the nickel and part of the iron; (iii) eluting the nickel and iron to produce an eluate containing the nickel and iron. (iv) neutralising the eluate to leave an iron depleted eluate; (v) neutralising the iron depleted eluate to cause precipitation of nickel hydroxide containing low iron; (vi) calcining the nickel hydroxide to convert it to nickel oxide; (vii) subjecting the nickel oxide to direct smelting in the presence of a reductant to produce a molten nickel phase; and (viii) refining the molten nickel phase by oxidation to produce a metallic nickel product with low iron content.

Abstract: Process for recovering catalyst coating material from a supporting structure, such as, for example, a catalytic converter assembly having a metal mantle, including contacting the catalytic coating material with a sodium, potassium or ammonium hydroxide-containing compound at an elevated temperature; and rinsing with a liquid and filtering the solid catalyst coating material from the solution.

Abstract: A method of producing titanium metal from a titanium-containing material includes the steps of producing a solution of M?TiF6 from the titanium-containing material, selectively precipitating M?2TiF6 from the solution by the addition of (M?)aXb and using the selectively precipitated M?2TiF6 to produce titanium. M? is a cation of the type which forms a hexafluorotitanate, M? is selected from ammonium and the alkali metal cations, X is an anion selected from halide, sulphate, nitrite, acetate and nitrate and a and b are 1 or 2.

Abstract: A process for the production of ferro-nickel or nickel matte from a product liquor solution containing at least nickel, cobalt, iron and acid soluble impurities, said process including the steps of: (a) contacting the product liquor solution (7) containing the nickel, cobalt, iron and acid soluble impurities with an ion exchange resin (8), wherein the resin selectively absorbs nickel and iron from the solution leaving the cobalt and the acid soluble impurities in the raffinate (9); (b) stripping the nickel and iron from the resin with a sulfuric acid solution to produce an eluate (11) containing nickel and iron; (c) neutralising the eluate to precipitate a mixed nickel iron hydroxide product (13); and (d) reducing and smelting the mixed nickel iron hydroxide product to produce ferro-nickel (29) or nickel matte (24).

Abstract: A process for production of titanium concentrate with low contents of radionuclide elements from anatase mechanical concentrates. The process involves calcination in air and reduction with hydrogen or any other reducing gas, both in fluidized bed reactor or rotary kiln, low-intensity magnetic separation of the reduced product, high-intensity magnetic separation of the non-magnetic fraction resulting from the low-intensity magnetic separation, hydrochloric acid leaching of the product of high-intensity magnetic separation, filtering and dewatering of the leached product, high temperature oxidation of the dewatered material, cooling of the oxidized ore, hydrochloric acid leaching of the oxidation product in the presence of sodium fluoride, filtration and drying of the product of the second leaching and high intensity magnetic separation, the non-magnetic fraction of this final magnetic separation becoming the end product.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the recovery of base metals, in particular but not exclusively copper, via integrated hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical processing of base-metal sulphides, in particular but not exclusively iron-containing base-metal sulphides.

Abstract: A method for recovering and separating precious and non-precious metals from waste streams, which removes, separates, and recovers such metals in a cost effective manner with more than 95% removed from waste streams and with minimal amounts of unprocessed solids and sludge remaining in the environment. Metals such as chromium, manganese, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, silver, gold, platinum, vanadium, sodium, potassium, beryllium, magnesium, calcium, barium, lead, aluminum, tin; and the like are removed and recovered from the waste streams with at least 95% removal and other metals and compounds, such as antimony, sulfur, and selenium are removed and recovered from waste streams with at least 50% removal. The method employs a unique complexing agent comprising a carbamate compound and an alkali metal hydroxide which facilitates the formation of the metals into ionic metal particles enabling them to be readily separated, removed and recovered.

Abstract: A component adjustor is added to an incineration residue containing salts to adjust a component ratio determined by the equation (Ca+Mg)/(Si+Al) in the range of 0.7 to 2.0. The incineration residue having the adjusted component ratio is charged to a melting furnace maintained in a reducing atmosphere to form a melt. The melt is separated into a molten slag layer, a molten salt layer, and a molten metal layer. The molten slag is fractionated and discharged from the melting furnace. The discharged molten slag is rapidly cooled. The temperature of the vapor phase in the melting furnace is maintained at 700 to 1000° C. A non-oxidizing gas is blown into the vapor phase in the melting furnace to increase the amounts of exhaust gases exhausted from the melting furnace.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for recovering and separating precious and non-precious metals from waste streams, which removes, separates, and recovers such metals in a cost effective manner with more than 95% removal from waste streams and with minimal amounts of unprocessed solids and sludge remaining in the environment. Metals such as chromium, manganese, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, silver, gold, platinum, vanadium, sodium, potassium, beryllium, magnesium, calcium, barium, lead, aluminum, tin; and the like are removed and recovered from the waste streams with at least 95% removal and other metals and compounds, such as antimony, sulfur, and selenium are removed and recovered from waste streams with at least 50% removal. The method employs a unique complexing agent comprising a carbamate compound and an alkali metal hydroxide which facilitates the formation of the metals into ionic metal particles enabling them to be readily separated, removed and recovered.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for recovering and separating precious and non-precious metals from waste streams, which removes, separates, and recovers such metals in a cost effective manner with more than 95% removal from waste streams and with minimal amounts of unprocessed solids and sludge remaining in the environment. Metals such as chromium, manganese, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, silver, gold, platinum, vanadium, sodium, potassium, beryllium, magnesium, calcium, barium, lead, aluminum, tin; and the like are removed and recovered from the waste streams with at least 95% removal and other metals and compounds, such as antimony, sulfur, and selenium are removed and recovered from waste streams with at least 50% removal. The method employs a unique complexing agent comprising a carbamate compound and an alkali metal hydroxide which facilitates the formation of the metals into ionic metal particles enabling them to be readily separated, removed and recovered.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for recovering and separating precious and non-precious metals from waste streams, which removes, separates, and recovers such metals in a cost effective manner with more than 95% removal form waste streams and with minimal amounts of unprocessed solids and sludge remaining in the environment. Metals such as chromium, manganese, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, silver, gold, platinum, vanadium, sodium, potassium, beryllium, magnesium, calcium, barium, lead, aluminum, tin; and the lie are removed and recovered from the waste streams with at least 95% removal and other metals and compounds, such as antimony, sulfur, and selenium are removed and recovered from waste streams with at least 50% removal. The method employs a unique complexing agent comprising a carbamate compound and an alkali metal hydroxide which facilitates the formation of the metals into ionic metal particles enabling them to be readily separated, removed and recovered.

Abstract: A non-metallic product (NMP) substantially free of metallic aluminum and aluminum nitride which is utilized for making calcium aluminate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for processing waste that contains contaminants. The contaminants may be metals modified by carbon, oxygen, phosphorus, or sulfur. The waste in the form of a powder is mixed with an ionic reducing agent in an inert liquid medium. The mixture is melted to give a first liquid phase and a second metal phase. The two phases are separated and solidified to enable disposal or temporary storage of the first liquid phase and to enable recycling of the second metal phase. The method is useful for inerting or reclaiming waste containing metal contaminants.

Abstract: A method and system for recycling byproduct streams from metal processing operations introduces a flow of a molten mixture of salts, metal and metal oxides from a melting vessel into a flow of water. The molten salts dissolve into the water. The metal oxides, and any metal entrapped in the molten mixture, instantly fragment into small particles. The slurry of brine and small particles flows into a storage tank and from there the brine can be separated from the small particles by employing a series of known liquid-solid separation techniques which preferably utilize cyclones, centrifuges, thickeners, and filters. In the case of aluminum processes, an antioxidant is preferably provided in the holding tank. To increase the settling rate of the solids, a flocculent can be added in the thickener.

Abstract: A nickel cermet containing a metal nickel phase and an yttria stabilized zirconia phase, is prepared by a process comprising: preparing a suspension of the zirconia in demineralized water; preparing a solution of a nickel salt in demineralized water; mixing the nickel solution and the zirconia dispersion; eliminating the water from the mixture to obtain a solid containing particles of the zirconia covered with the nickel salt; calcining the solid under oxidizing conditions to form particles of the zirconia covered with nickel oxide; and reducing the nickel oxide with hydrogen to nickel metal.

Abstract: A method for recovering and separating precious and non-precious metals from waste streams, which removes, separates, and recovers such metals in a cost effective manner with more than 95% removal from waste streams and with minimal amounts of unprocessed solids and sludge remaining in the environment. Metals such as chromium, manganese, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, silver, gold, platinum, vanadium, sodium, potassium, beryllium, magnesium, calcium, barium, lead, aluminum, tin; and the like are removed and recovered from the waste streams with at least 95% removal and other metals and compounds, such as antimony, sulfur, and selenium are removed and recovered from waste streams with at least 50% removal. The method employs a unique complexing agent comprising a carbamate compound and an alkali metal hydroxide which facilitates the formation of the metals into ionic metal particles enabling them to be readily separated, removed and recovered.

Abstract: A method for producing direct reduced iron or/and pig iron from an industrial waste materials stream such as EAF and blast furnace dust generally comprising the steps of separating the materials contained in the waste materials stream by magnetic separation or flotation, briquetting the iron-containing materials separated during the separation process with carbon, and providing the briquettes to a reduction furnace or/and to a small scale blast furnace or cupola furnace to produce direct reduced iron or/and pig iron, respectively. The exhaust streams from the process are further treated to recover chemical values and to allow the recycle of the exhaust streams to the main process.

Abstract: A method for processing metal chips and/or metal dust, including a first process step in which the metal is moistened and fed by a conveyor system to a collecting tank, especially a settling tank. In further process steps the material being processed passes from the collecting tank into a buffer tank, and from the buffer tank it is proportioned to a dewatering apparatus. In the dewatering apparatus the moisture is removed by compressed air. Removed moisture is fed back into the scraper flight conveyor settling tank, and then the dewatered metal is transferred to a container.

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 method for recovering and separating precious and non-precious metals from waste streams, which removes, separates, and recovers such metals in a cost effective manner with more than 95% removal from waste streams and with minimal amounts of umprocessed solids and sludge remaining in the enviroment. Metals such as chromium, manganese, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, silver, gold, platinum, vanadium, sodium, potassium, beryllium, magnesium, calcium, barium, lead, aluminum, tin; and the like are removed and recovered from the waste streams with at least 95% removal and other metals and compounds, such as antimony, sulfur, and selenium are removed and recovered from waste streams with at least 50% removal. The method employs a unique complexing agent comprising a carbamate compound and an alkali metal hydroxide which facilitates the formation of the metals into ionic metal particles enabling them to be readily separated, removed and recovered.

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: A method for processing hetrogeneous metal-containing deposits recovered from the cleaning of synthesis gas produced during the thermal treatment of wastes containing metals, including volatile metals, in equipment having a heating enclosure and a waste liquid container. The method comprises the steps of directing all of the liquids and residual solutions to the waste liquid container and directing all of the residual gases into the heating enclosure.

Abstract: A method for removing thallium ions from aqueous solutions uses manganese dioxide sludge produced during the electrolysis of zinc. The preferred allotropy of MnO.sub.2 is the .alpha.-form, which selectively absorbs thallium ions with minimum interference from other elements and metal ions present in the solution, and is significantly more economical than other reagents currently used for the same purpose.

Abstract: Steelworks dusts or sludge is mixed into sewage preferably in the presence of a flocculating agent to provide a rapid separation of a clear effluent and a sludge which is dewatered and dried to form a solid material adapted to entrap harmful materials in the sewage such as heavy metals, pathogens and organic chemicals. The solid material is supplied to a smelt reduction furnace from which molten iron is recovered and a hot gas discharge is provided from which recovery of zinc and other materials may be achieved, other waste material being removed as a slag.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for separating copper (II) from chromite in a material containing both copper (II) and chromite. The present invention separation method essentially comprises the steps of: (a) extracting the material with a combined hot vapor-liquid phase of volatile carboxylic acid to dissolve the copper (II) as cupric carboxylate, thereby removing the copper (II) from the material; and (b) crystallizing the cupric carboxylate. The present invention method may further comprise the step of reducing the chromite in the remaining material to chromium metal by reduction with hydrogen at about 1500.degree. C. Preferably, the substantially volatile carboxylic acid is acetic acid. The present invention method and apparatus is useful for treatment of exhausted catalyst pellets containing copper (II) and chromite and recovering both copper and chromium in a useful form from the pellets.

Abstract: A method of treating rare earth-transition metal alloy scrap involves in one embodiment dissolving the scrap in aqueous sulfuric acid solution, reacting the solution with a hydroxide of an alkali element (e.g., Na or K) or ammonium to precipitate a double sulfate salt of the rare earth and the alkali element or ammonium, and separating the salt from the solution. The double sulfate salt is converted to a rare earth salt, such as rare earth fluoride, amenable for use in metallothermic reduction processes to make rare earth metal or alloys.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a low carbon ferrochrome with a high chromium content of at least 70 weight % Cr comprising the steps of at least once nitriding and crushing a low carbon ferrochrome to form a crushed ferrochrome nitride and subjecting the crushed ferrochrome nitride to an acid treatment comprising introducing the crushed ferrochrome nitride into an acid solution and stirring the resultant mixture of the ferrochrome nitride and the acid solution, to remove iron. The acid treated ferrochrome nitride is denitrided by heating in a vacuum.

Abstract: A method for recovering reusable materials from aluminum dross is disclosed comprising crushing the dross and extracting solubles therefrom with water in a digester. The brine so obtained is processed in a crystallizer to obtain fluxing materials contained therein, and the insolubles are furnaced to separate the free aluminum metal therefrom. To prevent undesirable reactions from occurring in the digester which result in the production of hazardous and noxious products, the pH in the digester is controlled below about 8, and preferably above about 5, by withdrawing a magnesium chloride-containing stream from the crystallizer and introducing it into the digester.

Abstract: The invention is a process for the removal of high concentrations of impurities including antimony (Sb), bismuth (Bi), arsenic (As), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), selenium (Se) and tellurium (Te) contained in flue dusts produced during the smelting of copper. To effect the separation, the flue dust is slurried to about 10-30 weight percent solids. Then slurry is fed to gravity separation equipment, where the lighter impurities fraction segregates from the heavier revenue metals fraction. The segregated high copper concentrate is then washed while the tailings are neutralized by lime milk, dewatered and recovered as tailings cake. The wash solution together with the thickener overflow is subjected to copper cementation to recover the dissolved copper in the solution. The lighter impurities fraction can be subjected to acid leaching in order to further recover copper therefrom.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a titanium powder, which comprises the steps of: causing a molten reducing agent comprising molten magnesium at a temperature of 650.degree. to 900.degree. C. or molten sodium at a temperature of 100.degree. to 900.degree. C. to fall into a reaction vessel; ejecting a titanium tetrachloride gas at a temperature of 650.degree. to 900.degree. C. toward the falling flow of the molten reducing agent in the reaction vessel to atomize the molten reducing agent, and producing titanium particles containing molten reaction product which comprises molten magnesium chloride or molten sodium chloride, through a reducing reaction between the atomized molten reducing agent and the titanium tetrachloride gas; and removing the reaction product from the titanium particles containing the reaction product to manufacture a titanium powder.