Abstract: An apparatus for the thermal treatment of lump or agglomerated material in a firing machine includes a travelling grate configured to convey the material through the firing machine. A firing chamber has a ceiling and side walls and is configured to generate temperatures required for the thermal treatment. The ceiling has a plurality of openings and the side walls have a plurality of burners that are directed obliquely upwards. A cooling zone is configured to pass cooling gases through the thermally treated material so as to heat the cooling gases. A recuperation tube is configured to recirculate the heated cooling gases to the firing chamber through the openings in the ceiling.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing a metalliferous material in a fluidized bed includes a vessel for containing the fluidized bed, a mechanism for supplying the metalliferous material, a solid carbonaceous material, an oxygen-containing gas, and a fluidizing gas into the vessel for forming the fluidized bed in the vessel. The oxygen-containing gas supply mechanism includes one or more than one oxygen-containing gas injection lance having a lance tip with an outlet that is positioned for injecting the oxygen-containing gas in a downward flow into the vessel within a range of plus or minus 40° to the vertical.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for recovering metal values from Electric Arc Furnace dust, particularly zinc and iron values, by mixing EAF dust and carbonaceous fines to form a particulate mixture; heating the mixture at a sufficient temperature and for a sufficient time to reduce and release volatile metals and alkali metals in a flue gas; collecting the released metals, and removing the metal values from the process as product.

Abstract: A method to agglomerate metal particles such as tantalum and niobium powders is described which includes combining a volatilizable or vaporizable liquid with the particles to form wet particles; compacting the wet particles; drying the compacted wet particles to form a cake; and heat treating the cake to form the agglomerated particles. Also described are agglomerated particles obtained by this method and further, particles, preferably tantalum or niobium powder, having a flow rate of at least about 65 mg/sec and/or an improved pore size distribution, and/or a higher Scott Density. Capacitors made from tantalum powder and niobium powder are also described.

Abstract: An indirect plasma-arc processor for aluminum dross is disclosed. The process involves melting aluminum dross in the presence of a flux in a furnace equipped with one or more arc-forming electrodes, wherein the arc is formed with a gas, such as argon. Molten oxides are removed from time to time, and the volatiles are removed via off-gas ducts.

Abstract: A process for treating electric furnace dust comprising mixing electric furnace dust and a reducing agent with a material for reducing the slag melting point, preheating the mixture, adding the preheated mixture to molten slag which is being subjected to bubbling using oxygen-containing gas, heating the whole mixture, collecting volatilized material, and cooling the remainder.