Abstract: A method for processing plastics includes receiving input plastics to be processed. The method further includes driving the input plastics through a reactor chamber having at least two zones each containing heated fluid that is heated to greater temperatures in a subsequent zone such that remaining plastics of the input plastics are exposed to increasingly greater temperatures in each zone of the reactor chamber. The method also includes collecting condensable vapors that flow out of the at least two zones of the reactor chamber. The method further includes condensing the condensable vapors into a liquid condensate. The method also includes removing biochar products from the heated fluid. The method further includes removing contaminants from the reactor chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new compositions of matter, particularly metals and alloys, and methods of making such compositions. The new compositions of matter exhibit long-range ordering and unique electronic character.

Abstract: In the method for recovering a metal from a target that contains a metal and a metal oxide, the target contains a sintered body of the metal oxide after being heated under a condition of melting the metal without melting or decomposing the metal oxide. The target is heated in an upper crucible of a two-level crucible that includes the upper crucible with a through hole-formed in a bottom surface thereof, and a lower crucible disposed below the through hole, the size of the through hole being set such that it does not allow the sintered body of the metal oxide contained in the target to pass therethrough, and the melted metal is caused to flow into the lower crucible, so that the metal is separated from the metal oxide.

Abstract: A method of recovering gold from a gold containing source material comprising: forming a molten pool comprising at least one metal selected from the group consisting of copper, silver, gold and platinum group metals; and adding at least part of the source material into the molten pool of metal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of liquid-crystal displays (LCDs), and to processes for the recycling thereof. The processes according to the invention are characterised in that the LCDs are employed at least partly as replacement for other raw materials. In general, the LCDs are thermally treated here at a temperature in the range from 900 to 1700° C.

Abstract: In the method for recovering a metal from a target that contains a metal and a metal oxide, the target contains a sintered body of the metal oxide after being heated under a condition of melting the metal without melting or decomposing the metal oxide. The target is heated in an upper crucible of a two-level crucible that includes the upper crucible with a through hole-formed in a bottom surface thereof, and a lower crucible disposed below the through hole, the size of the through hole being set such that it does not allow the sintered body of the metal oxide contained in the target to pass therethrough, and the melted metal is caused to flow into the lower crucible, so that the metal is separated from the metal oxide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new compositions of matter, particularly metals and alloys, and methods of making such compositions. The new compositions of matter exhibit long-range ordering and unique electronic character.

Abstract: A process for extracting a precious metal from a precious metal containing source is provided comprising the steps of: —(i) contacting the precious metal-containing source with a vapor phase chloride salt; (ii) condensing the precious metal containing volatile product of step (i); and (iii) recovering the precious metal from the condensed product of step (ii).

Abstract: A method to enhance the extraction of an element from an ore includes subjecting the ore, or element bearing material to electromagnetic radiation to induce pyrolysis of the material. The residue of the pyrolysis may then be processed in a conventional manner to extract the element. The radiation used in the invention has a wavelength longer than microwave radiation, and is preferably 100 mm or longer. Preferably, radio waves are used as the radiation to effect pyrolysis.

Abstract: A process for extracting a precious metal from a precious metal containing source is provided comprising the steps of: (i) contacting the precious metal-containing source with a vapour phase chloride salt; (ii) condensing the precious metal containing volatile product of step (i); and (iii) recovering the precious metal from the condensed product of step (ii).

Abstract: The invention provides a method of assaying a mineral sample for determining the concentration of selected metals in a sample comprising the steps of providing a comminuted mineral sample; mixing such sample with a flux; preheating a reaction vessel to a temperature which approximates the melting point of the flux; introducing the mixture of the mineral sample and flux into the crucible, whereby the mixture is transformed to a molten state to capture the metal to be assayed in a collector material; and separating slag from the collector material.

Abstract: Granular ore or ore concentrate is charged into a furnace for calcining the ore at temperatures of 400 to 1050° C., the ore forming a stationary fluidized bed in the furnace. The ore is thrown onto the fluidized bed through an opening in the furnace housing disposed above the fluidized bed, the ore being accelerated by blades of a rotating impeller. The impeller is disposed outside the furnace in the vicinity of the opening of the housing. Preferably, the rotational speed of the impeller is variable, and the impeller is movable and/or pivotable with respect to the furnace.

Abstract: Gold powders and methods for producing gold powders. The powders preferably have a small particle size, narrow size distribution and a spherical morphology. The method includes forming the particles by a spray pyrolysis technique. The invention also includes novel devices and products formed from the gold powders.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for the recovery of one or more trace elements including gold and one or more platinum group elements from coal. More particularly, the present invention may specify parameters for the selection of coal for combustion, the parameters for combustion of the pre-selected coal, the parameters for the preparation and mixing of a charge for a furnace including ash from the combustion of the coal with an inquart and a fluxing agent, the parameters for the heating of the charge and casting of a dore bar and the parameters for the production of an anode slime from the dore bar. The method of the present invention may also specify parameters for the recovery of silver, gold and one or more trace platinum group elements from the anode slimes.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for obtaining colloid-forming metal particles from an aqueous mine waste solution containing that metal in ionic form. In accordance with this process, an aqueous mine waste solution containing that metal in ionic form is provided having a pH value of about 4.0 to about 6.5. The solution is electrified with direct current a about 1.2 to about 2.0 volts to reduce the desired metal ions to colloidal metal particles. A slurry of cellulose particles is agitatingly added to the colloid composition followed by a flocculant to form a solid phase cellulosic floc containing the colloid. The solid and liquid phases are separated, and the solid phase is dried, fluxed and heated to a temperature sufficient to melt the flux and colloid and form larger metal particles that can then be recovered. The colloid-forming metal is preferably gold.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for the manufacture of substantially fully densified, finely divided particles of gold wherein the operating temperature is below the melting point of gold.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing zinc, cadmium, lead and other easily volatile metals from sulfidic raw materials in a pyrometallurgical process. In the method, zinc sulfide concentrate is fed into molten copper in atmospheric conditions, at a temperature of 1,450.degree.-1,800.degree. C., so that the zinc, lead and cadmium are volatilized, and the iron and copper remain in the molten metal or in the metal sulfide matte created in the furnace.

Abstract: A new environmentally safe fire refining precious metal assay method is provided wherein bismuth oxide is used with a special flux composition as the precious metal collector and the cupelling procedure is performed in a controlled temperature range.

Abstract: Complex ores of the precious metals which also contain iron spinels and similar compounds are assayed and their precious metals content is extracted by subjecting the ores or concentrates thereof together with an iron-embrittling agent to a pyrometallurgical process which reduces at least a major portion of the iron compounds to liquid metallic iron. The liquid iron serves as a collector metal for the precious metals and, after cooling, the iron is brittle and easily comminuted and can be separated from the precious metals through use of either an electrolytic process or a selective chemical dissolution of the iron and other base metals leaving the precious metals available for analysis and recovery.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for recovering precious metals using a combination of smelting and an effective utilization of molten salt chlorination. More specifically, disclosed is a process including the steps of (i) contacting, for example, a matte with a chloride salt containing at least one of potassium, cesium or rubidium, but not sodium or lithium to form a matte/salt solids mixture, (ii) introducing the solids mixture into a chloride melt having a temperature ranging from 300.degree. C. to 650.degree. C., said melt containing at least one of potassium, cesium, rubidium, sodium or lithium, (iii) introducing a chlorine containing gas into the melt, and (iv) maintaining the salt ratio in the matte/salt mixture at a stoichiometrically equivalent amount with the precious metals and base metals contained in the matte.

Abstract: A method to reduce dissolved silver present in spent, waste, photographic processing fluids containing thiosulfate, is described. This process involves adjusting the pH to a low level prior to the addition of finely ground steel to the solution. With the pH at the low level, e.g. 2.5, the reaction of dissolved silver to precipitated silver, is facilitated. However, the pH must then be raised or neutralized, e.g. 7-8.5, in order to insure that the dissolved silver is essentially all precipitated. This material can now be safely shipped without treatment as a hazardous material and, after filtering the solids therefrom, can be safely disposed.

Abstract: The present invention is a process to recover precious metals from sulfide ores. It involves chlorinating a mixture of an ore concentrate and salt to form a liquid melt. The salt preferably contains potassium chloride. This chlorination is carried out at a temperature between 300.degree. and 600.degree. C. while stirring. The process converts precious metals in the elemental and sulfide forms into precious metal chlorides which are recovered by subsequent processing steps.

Abstract: In carbon-in-pulp (CIP) and carbon-in-leach (CIL) processes, especially those utilizing pure oxygen instead of normal air to increase the overall efficiency of the cyanide leaching-adsorption process in the recovery of gold and/or silver from ores, the screen within each tank which surrounds the slurry outlet is kept clean. The cleaning action is accomplished by linearly reciprocating the screen first slowly in one direction, and then quickly in another (to cause back flushing); or by rotating a cleaning rotor on the inside of a cylindrical screen. The cleaning rotor may be connected to the same shaft as an agitator disposed above a draft tube within the tank. The screen surface is tapered in its direction of movement, and during movement has a tendency to transport and concentrate the carbon (charcoal) particles at the far end of the slow stroke, and the concentrated particles can be withdrawn and recirculated to other tanks in the system.