Abstract: The present invention concerns a high vacuum in-situ refining method for high-purity and superhigh-purity materials and the apparatus thereof, characterized in heating the upper part and lower part of crucible separately using double-heating-wires diffusion furnace under vacuum, thereby forming the temperature profile which is high at upper part and low at lower part of crucible, or in reverse during different stages; then heating the crucible in two steps to remove impurities with high saturation vapor pressure and low saturation vapor pressure respectively in efficiency; and obtaining high-purity materials eventually. The whole procedure is isolated from atmosphere, reducing contamination upon stuff remarkably. The present invention could provide products with high-quality and high production capacity, which are stable in performance, therefore is reliable and free from contamination.

Abstract: A process for metal purification comprising a first step for heating a feed metal in a feed crucible to generate a vapor of the metal, a second step for directing the vapor into a condensation passageway for vapors, where part of the vapor is condensed to generate a molten condensate, a third step for directing the vapor through the condensation passageway for vapors into a solidification crucible so that the vapor is cooled to solidify said metal in a high-purity form, and a fourth step for returning the molten condensate into the feed crucible.

Abstract: A 99.99% pure indium feed is charged into a crucible and heated to 1250 ° C. by an upper heater in a vacuum atmosphere at 1×10−4 Torr, whereupon indium evaporates, condenses on the inner surfaces of an inner tube and drips to be recovered into a liquid reservoir in the lower part of a tubular member, whereas impurity elements having a lower vapor pressure than indium stay within the crucible. The recovered indium mass in the liquid reservoir is heated to 1100° C. by a lower heater and the resulting vapors of impurity elements having a higher vapor pressure than indium pass through diffuser plates in an upper part of the tubular member to be discharged from the system, whereas the indium vapor recondenses upon contact with the diffuser plates and returns to the liquid reservoir, yielding 99.9999% pure indium, while preventing the loss of indium.

Abstract: Recycling process for CdTe/CdS thin film-solar cell modules in which the modules are mechanically disintegrated into module fragments, the module fragments are exposed to an oxygen-containing atmosphere at a temperature of at least 300° C. causing a pyrolysis of adhesive material contained in the module fragments in form of a hydrocarbon based plastics material and the gaseous decomposition products that are generated during the pyrolysis are discharged, and, afterwards, the module fragments freed from the adhesive means are exposed to a chlorine-containing gas atmosphere at a temperature of more than 400° C. causing an etching process wherein the CdCl2 and TeCl4 that are generated in the etching process are made to condense and precipitate by cooling.

Abstract: A method of processing flue dust, where the flue dust contains one or more compounds from a first group of zinc, lead and cadmium compounds, and contains one or more compounds from a second group of iron, silicon, calcium, magnesium and aluminum compounds, includes mixing the flue dust with a carbonaceous material, heating the flue dust/carbonaceous material mixture under non-turbulent conditions to cause a substantial portion of the compounds from the first group to become gas-borne while retaining a substantial portion of the compounds of the second group in a non-gas-borne condition, and separating the gas-borne compounds from the non-gas-borne compounds.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for separating undesired toxic metals, such as Zn, Pb and Cd, from iron-containing materials by: sintering a mixture of such materials (typically including EAF dust and mill scale) with carbonaceous particles to form sturdy sinter lumps; preheating such lumps in a non-reducing atmosphere, if needed, to achieve an elevated temperature generally above the vaporization temperature of the undesired metals, but below the sticking temperature of iron-containing lumps (which is typically below the vaporization temperatures of such undesired metals in their oxide form), feeding the lumps at such elevated temperature into a reduction reactor; flowing hot reducing gas through lumps to volatilize undesired reduced metals and carry the volatilized metals out of reduction reactor leaving the iron-containing lumps largely stripped of the undesired metals and ready for discharge and safe and/or useful disposal or re-use, and finally cooling the off gas from the reactor

Abstract: A process for recovering iron from iron-bearing materials including steel mill waste and iron-bearing ores. The process includes the steps of providing a mixture of iron-bearing materials having iron oxides therein and carbonaceous material. Blending with the mixture an organic binder. The mixture is then agglomerated to form green compacts. The green compacts are then loaded into a preheated rotary hearth furnace void of compacts to form a layer of compacts no more than about two compacts high. The green compacts are heated for about 5-12 minutes at a temperature of between about 2200-2500° F. to reduce the compacts and evolve undesirable oxides from the compacts. The reduced compacts are then discharged from the rotary hearth furnace whereupon they are soaked to provide additional time for reaction to achieve 99% or more reduction of the iron oxides. The metallized iron compacts may then be cooled or transported hot to a steel making operation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for pyrometallurgical processing, in a furnace chamber, of metal-containing waste which may also contain a quantity of organic material. The process involves a reducing gas being blown with high velocity onto the surface of the smelt in which the metal oxides are present in the molten state, the reducing gas being made by incomplete combustion of a fuel and/or the organic material and an oxygen-containing gas. Additionally, steam and/or an oxygen-rich gas such as almost pure oxygen are injected, roughly parallel to the surface of the smelt, into the oven chamber above said surface. The total amount of oxygen used in the furnace chamber is lower than the amount required stoichiometrically for complete combustion of the organic material together with the fuel.

Abstract: The residues arising from industrial processes and from waste disposal which are polluted with heavy metals and/or heavy metal compounds, are subjected to a two-stage reduction process with formation of re-usable metal-containing and silicon-containing alloys. In a first reduction stage, using carbon or carbon-generating means as the reduction means, the compounds of silicon and metals are reduced, which have a standard potential which is greater than that of silicon. Following separation of the reduced metals, the residue obtained, which contains aluminum in oxidized form, is subsequently converted to a salt melt and this salt melt is subjected to a second reduction stage of a fused salt electrolysis, yielding an aluminum and silicon melt. The process is particularly suitable for filter residues from waste incineration plants.

Abstract: A method for separation and recovery of metals and metal oxides from industrial minerals and waste materials containing zinc, lead, cadmium, arsenic, iron, mercury and selenium. The metals and metal oxides in dust form are mixed with a reducing agent and additives, agglomerated, heated above 800.degree. C., and contacted with a flow of inert, reducing or slightly oxidizing gases to volatilize the metals and metal oxides for recovering separate from solid residual product.

Abstract: A method for working up refuse or metal-oxide-containing refuse incineration residues or metallurgical residues includes an at least partial oxidation in a meltdown oxidizing reactor followed by a two-stage reduction. The first reduction stage is effected in an iron bath reactor in which iron oxides are not yet reduced. In the second reduction stage also iron oxides are reduced in an iron bath calciner, a pig iron bath being obtained. The metal bath discharged from the iron bath reactor reaches a segregation mold, from which crude bronze can be drawn off.

Abstract: A processing method by which metals may be recovered at a high purity from metal-containing waste materials.The method for processing metal-containing waste materials comprises crushing a metal-containing waste material to a particle size of 1-50 mesh, separating and recovering the metal-containing particles from the crushed portion, introducing the metal-containing particles into a vacuum heating furnace, pre-heating the furnace while under suction evacuation, and then raising the temperature of the furnace in stages while continuing the vacuum suctioning, recovering the metal and non-metal vapor produced at each temperature level using a condensing and adsorbing means, and recovering the liquated metals as melts. The method may be used to process waste batteries, copper-containing waste materials and the like in the same manner to recover high-purity metals.

Abstract: A process for preparing a metallic cadmium powder for use in a nickel-cadmium by heat melting metallic cadmium in an evaporator, introducing an inert gas into the evaporator to discharge cadmium vapor along with the inert gas into a cooler, and collecting the resulting metallic cadmium powder, wherein the process condition is regulated such that at least one of the following conditions (1) and (2) can be satisfied:(1) the amount of the inert gas flow introduced into the evaporator is at least 30 Nl/g of cadmium vapor while the direction of introducing the inert gas into the evaporator is set against the surface of the molten cadmium; and(2) the temperature of the molten cadmium in the evaporator and the amount of the inert gas flow introduced into the evaporator are set such that the following formulae can be satisfied:log y.gtoreq.8.8.times.10.sup.-3 x-5.3 (600.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.900), andlog y.gtoreq.1.8.times.10.sup.-3 x-0.96 (330.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.600),wherein x is the temperature (.degree.C.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a process for the direct smelting of zinc containing materials. The process includes volatilizing zinc from zinc-containing materials into a gas phase, while sulphur is fixed as iron sulphide in a Fe-S-O matte. Thereafter, zinc is recovered in metallic form with a suitable condenser apparatus from a zinc laden gas consisting of Zn(g), CO, CO.sub.2 and N.sub.2. Other metals like silver, cadmium, mercury and lead may also be recovered in this manner.

Abstract: A process and device for recovering cadmium and nickel metals from Ni-Cd battery and processing scrap material containing nickel, cadmium, iron and other substances are disclosed. The process includes depositing the scrap material in a furnace and adding an effective amount of an oxygen getter in the furnace to prevent oxide formation. Argon or nitrogen gas is introduced and maintained in the atmosphere of the furnace. The furnace is then heated for an effective period of time to evaporate free water. The temperature of the furnace is then increased and maintained to approximately 500.degree.-800.degree. C. for an effective period of time to volatilize molecular water and non-metallic substances. The temperature of the furnace is then further raised to greater than approximately 900.degree. C. for an effective period of time to vaporize cadmium from the scrap material.

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 plant for separating substances from a gas flow, especially environmentally harmful heavy metals in gas form released in connection with incinerating batteries, the plant including in series connection in a gas flow circuit, a chamber for initially collecting the gas flow containing the substances to be separated; a compressor which pressurizes the gas flow; an expansion device through which the pressurized gas flow passes while rapidly lowering the pressure and temperature of the gas flow so that at least a part of the substances to be separated condense and are separated in solid or fluid state in a separation chamber, the inlet of which is connected to the outlet of the expansion device and which is provided with an outlet for the remaining gas flow which communicates with the inlet of the collecting chamber to form a closed gas-circulation circuit.

Abstract: A smelting process for blending hazardous and non-hazardous inorganic industrial wastes with carbon or aluminum reducing agents to simultaneously recover metal alloys (reducible metals), metal oxides (volatile reducible metals), carbon dioxide and man-made vitreous fiber (non reducible metals). Wastes including hazardous wastes of U.S. EPA Series D, F, P, K, and U are pulverized and blended with liquids such as water or waste water to produce a homogeneous mass. The mass is formed into briquettes and melted in a cupola or plasma arc furnace in the presence of carbon or aluminum to reduce metals. Other types of furnaces such as an electric arc furnace may be used to avoid the steps of forming and curing briquettes. Reduction is carried out at temperatures between 1660 and 3100 degrees Fahrenheit. Calcium flux from calcium-stabilized wastes enhances mineral wool quality, lowers the sulfur content of metals and raises pH to facilitate metal reduction. Reducible metals are reduced and drawn off into molds.

Abstract: Metal vapor, for example zinc fume in the offgas of a smelting furnace, is captured by bringing the stream into direct contact with a fluidized bed of solid particles having a particulate loading of greater than 10 kg/m.sup.3 and preferably greater than 400 kg/m.sup.3. The thermal mass and temperature of the bed is such as to rapidly quench the vapor in the case of zinc from above 960.degree. C. to below 419.degree. C. in less than 100 milliseconds, whereby the vapor condenses in the bed and is recovered as zinc metal in acceptable yield.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for processing environmentally undesirable materials including petroleum coke and the sulfur and heavy metals contained therein and agglomerated waste dust from an electric arc furnace and the zinc, cadmium, lead and iron oxides contained therein and of providing fuel and a charging material for a process of making molten iron or steel preproducts and reduction gas in a melter gasifier. Metallized arc furnace waste dust material from a reduction furnace is introduced into the melter gasifier. The petroleum coke, oxygen and metallized waste dust material are reacted to produce reduction gas and molten iron from the iron oxides in the waste dust material. The molten iron contains the metals freed from combustion of the petroleum coke. The reduction gas is removed from the melter gasifier for use in the reduction furnace to produce an top off gas containing vapors of zinc, cadmium and lead.

Abstract: A process is provided for condensing zinc and other metal vapors from a gaseous stream. A duplex condensing bath is provided, having a bottom layer of molten zinc and a top layer comprising a liquid condensing medium, such as a molten salt. The molten salt is inert to, immiscible with, and less dense than the molten zinc, and has a negligible zinc vapor pressure even at temperatures greater than 700.degree. C. The molten salt condensing medium is splashed into, or otherwise contacted with the gaseous stream, causing condensation of the zinc and other metal vapors, which then partition with the molten zinc layer of the duplex condensing bath.The process of the present invention is a significant improvement over current molten zinc-type splash condenser systems. The negligible zinc vapor pressure of the molten salt layer permits operating temperatures of 700.degree. C.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for recovering cadmium in used nickel-cadmium batteries by heat treatment. According to the invention, a plastic case for a battery can be separated from a battery body easily without leaking cadmium. High purity cadmium can be recovered by volatilizing cadmium in a non-oxidizing atmosphere.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering primary metals from pyrometallurgical process dust, in which a vertical shaft retort, situated in a furnace or afterburner associated with a pyrometallurgical apparatus, such as an inclined rotary reduction smelter, and preferably having a tapered cross-section with the larger end at the bottom, receives greenball pellets from a pelletizer, vaporizes volatile metal metals therein, and removes them to an associated volatile metal recovery apparatus, while reducing and recovering the major metal oxide components in the pellets in metallized form.