Search Documents

By Kimio Itagaki

The distribution behaviours of the VA elements between the gas, slag and matte phases in copper smelting were evaluated on the basis of the thermodynamic data, most of which were determined by the authors. The distribution is basically dependent on the process factors such as temperature, the content of the element in charge, the amount of the waste gas and degree of vapour saturation with the elements. The thermodynamic quantities such as the activity coefficients of the VA elements in matte, the activities of iron and copper, SO2 or 02 potential and the distribution ratio of the elements between the slag and matte phases seriously affect the distribution, and the behaviours in various smelters could be explained systematically and reasonably by considering the changes in these quantities, In oxidation smelting at PSO2= 0.1 to 1 atm, the proportion of arsenic and bismuth in gas is predomi22t for the arsenic and bismuth distributions in both smelting and converting stages. The degree of vapour saturation has serious effect on the distribution, and sufficient contact between gas and matte phases is desirable for transferring arsenic and bismuth into gas phase.The elimination of antimony by means of vaporization is not significant. In reduction smelting at po2 = 10-11 atm, the proportions of arsenic and antimony in the gas phase are quite small, but the proportion of bismuth does not change significantly.

Jan 1, 1983

By Chu Yong Cheng

Synergists can be used in solvent extraction to improve the selectivity of extractants for metals. Research work carried out by the SX group at the AJ Parker Cooperative Research Centre for Hydrometallurgy / CSIRO Minerals has shown that the pH isotherm of nickel with Versatic 10 was significantly lowered by the addition of the synergist Acorga CLX50. The paper discusses how this synergistic shift can be used to alleviate a gypsum formation problem at Bulong nickel laterite operation in Western Australia. Metal pH isotherms were obtained with Versatic 10 and synergist CLX50 using synthetic leach solutions. In terms of pH50, the extraction order of the metals with 0.5 M Versatic 10 alone was Cu > Zn > Ni > Co > Mn > Ca > Mg, whilst the extraction order with Versatic 10 and 20% by volume CLX50 was Cu > Ni Zn > Co > Mn > Ca > Mg with the pH50 (Mn-Co) significantlyincreased. This is significant because the isotherms of valuable metals Ni, Cu, Co and Zn shift more towards low pH than those of the waste metals Mn, Mg and Ca, resulting in a possible good separation of Ni, Cu, Co and Zn from Mn, Mg and Ca. The use of intermediate precipitation, solids/liquid separation and re-leach in the three Western Australian nickel plants make these processes complicated and costly in capital and operation. The research work carried by the SX groupat the AJ Parker Centre has led to the development of direct SX (DSX) processes to recover nickel and cobalt from leach solutions using synergistic organic systems. Semi-continuous tests with a BHP Billiton pilot plant leach solution showed that Ni and Co together with Zn and Cu were separated from the major impurities, Mn, Mg, Ca, and Cl, in the first SX circuit. The co-extracted impurities were easily scrubbed. After stripping, Ni and Co together with Zn and Cu were concentrated, resulting in a much smaller second SX circuit in the down stream processes.

Jan 1, 2003

By Zhenglong Li

A process has been developed to recover titanium from a blast-furnace slag which contains about 20-25% Ti02 and 12% Fe. In this process. "hot" slag from the blast furnace is directed to a separate furnace where it is reheated with additives to form two simple slag phases: one is titanium enriched anosovite (Ti3O5) and the other is a titanium lean non-crystal glass phase. The modified slag is then processed by conventional beneficiation techniques to produce a marketable titanium concentrate and a usable slag material. This paper focus on separating anosovite from glass by electrostatic separation and froth flotation.

Jan 1, 1996

By John D. Kinton

A patent is a right granted by the government to exclude others from making, using, selling, offering to sell, or importing a claimed invention. Once the right is granted, the patentee may use the U.S. Federal Courts to enforce that right. Reading a patent from a litigation perspective is quite different than reading it from a technical perspective. The Judge's interpretation of the claims will affect their scope, and likely the ultimate outcome of a patent case. Additionally, the patent right can be challenged. If done successfully, the patent can be rendered invalid or unenforceable. The likelihood of success, and well as the achievement of other litigation goals is often influenced by the forum where the litigation is initiated. Finally, patent litigation costs are significant, and will weigh heavily in the decision to file (or fight) a patent lawsuit.

Jan 1, 2006

By Qingyu Deng, Shiwei Ma, Guibao Qiu, Hua Wang

"The flow behavior of the blast furnace slag bearing titanium, like viscosity, play an importance role during the iron-making process with the vanadium-titanium magnetite, which is a very special minerals in Panzhihua, China. The dependency of the viscosity on the chemical composition like TiO2, Al2O3, MgO, binary basicity (CaO/SiO2), temperature, reaction time were studied. The experiments showed that the viscosity decreased with the increase of TiO2, MgO content and binary basicity, and it increased with the increase of Al2O3 content and temperature. The viscosity showed a slight decrease within 60mins’ reaction with graphite crucible, however, it increased rapidly afterwards with the formation of Ti(C, N).IntroductionThe ordinary iron ore has been an essential part of raw materials for vanadium-titanium magnetite smelting in Panzhihua to avoid a series of problems, such as slag thickening, adhesive bond of slag and hot metal, etc. The ratio of vanadium-titanium magnetite has been decreased gradually since 1970s, and has down to about 65% now. However, with the substantial appreciation of price of imported ordinary iron ore, Panzhihua Iron and Steel Group aims to increase the ratio of vanadium-titanium magnetite and decrease the dependence on ordinary iron ore in order to lower the cost of smelting process."

Jan 1, 2012

By R. A. Roberti

Most copper refineries use conventional wheel systems to cast anodes. over a period of time the copper moulds that are used become warped and cracks develop. To control mould warpage, the mould's are either rejected after a certain warpage is reached, or the shape is restored by mechanical means. The cracks, unless they are very severe, are repaired by a peening process. Even with regular maintenance to control warpage and cracks, the moulds have a limited useful life. If warpage and cracks are not controlled, anode quality deteriorates and tankhouse operations are seriously affected. -An intensive study was initiated to develop means of controlling mould warpage which culminated in the d?evelopment of technology to control mould warpage to within ±1. 5 mm, and at the same time effectively contr0l: cracking and significantly increase the mould life-. The warpage control has been achieved by using a unique mould design. Mould cavities are present on both sides of the mould and periodic inverting controls the wa-rpage in the cavities. The mould casting procedure has been developed and all production wheels have been converted to the new mould design. The performance characteristics of these moulds will be detailed. 21

Jan 1, 1987

By Paul S. Korinko, Simona E. Hunyadi Murph

To address a radiological contamination event, a materials and process project was initiated. During the course of this project, processes and materials were developed that successfully captured zinc vapors physically and chemically, respectively. However, the physical traps were placed in an undesirable area and it was determined that the chemically captured zinc reactions was reversible. Consequently, advanced nanomaterials are being developed to capture zinc vapors. The current state of the art of the science and engineering of these materials and their efficacy for zinc capture and retention is discussed in this paper.

Jan 1, 2015

By John A. Mavrogenes

Reflected light microscopy and electron microprobe techniques were used to determine the mineralogy, phase percentages, grain sizes, and textures of Co-Ni-rich mattes. The mattes were produced by submerged bath smelting at the University of Missouri-Rolla Pyrometallurgical Center of a flotation concentrate with 4.S% Co and 5.1% Ni that was prepared at the United States Bureau of Mines Rolla Research Center by flotation up-grading of the cobalt and nickel content of a copper concentrate from the Magmont mine, Viburnum Trend, Southeast Missouri. Nine distinct phases were distinguished in the matte samples, and three of these contain cobalt and nickel. The phases that were free from cobalt and nickel are bornite, chalcocite, pyrrhotite, magnetite, metallic copper, and galena. Submerged bath smelting serves to segregate the cobalt and nickel into phases that can subsequently be recovered by flotation. These phases are: shandite (Ni3PbZSZ)' cobaltpentlandite ((Co,Ni,Fe)9SS)' and Co-bearing Fe-rich sphalerite ((Zn,Fe,Co)S). Most of the cobalt occurs in cobaltpentlandite, but some is present in sphalerite. High total air conditions during smelting favor the development and segregation of cobalt into cobaltpentlandite. Nickel occurs in cobaltpentlandite and shandite. Shandite contains lead, a deleterious constituent in the smelting of cobalt and nickel.

Jan 1, 1989

By J. Priede, G. Gerbeth

"Two different instability mechanisms of electromagnetically levitated bodies are analyzed. The first is due to the virtual coupling between the electric current passing through the magnetic system and the variation of position of the body. This mechanism can result in unstable mass center oscillations of a levitated solid body. Another type of instabilities may occur because of the coupling between the motion and the electric currents induced in the body. This effect can cause a spontaneous rotation of the body setting in as the frequency of the alternating magnetic field exceeds certain critical threshold depending on the configuration of the field. This instability can be suppressed by an axial steady magnetic field of strength comparable to that of the levitating field. 1 IntroductionAn alternating magnetic field interacting with eddy currents induced in a conducting body causes repulsion between the body and the coil generating the field. Besides, the eddy currents provide a contactless heating of the body. In such a way metallic samples can be levitated and melted without a contacting crucible. This technique allows to avoid contamination of the melt with container material and so to achieve a considerable super-cooling of the melt before it solidifies. Nowadays electromagnetic levitation is widely used in material research for measuring of the thermophysical properties of molten metals (2) .It has been observed since early fifties when the first experiments on the electromagnetic levitation were done that under certain circumstances solid levitated samples start to rotate or oscillate [l]. Surface oscillations can appear in addition when the sample is melted. Such phenomena are undesirable because they often result in failure of the levitation. Recently we showed that rotational as well as oscillatory instabilities can have electrodynamic origin related to additional eddy currents induced by motion of the body in an alternating magnetic field [3] , [4].In the first part of the present paper we analyze another possible cause of oscillatory instability due to the coupling between the electric current passing trough the magnetic system with variation of the position of the levitated body. The second part of the paper deals with the origin and suppression of rotational instability in a uniform alternating magnetic field."

Jan 1, 1999

By Laura Garcia H, Juan Carlos Gonzalez Islas, Luis Garcia Lechuga, Pedro Alberto Ramirez Ortega

"Electrochemical studies were performed to silver recovery from industrial wastes (radiographic films) on litanium flat electrode using a filter press-type electrochemical reactor with vertical orientation (known as REOV-01), as counter electrode was used a mesh-type DSA. Voltammetric studies were employed to fmd the current range under which silver reduction occurs. Using chronopotentiometric studies with controlled current, homogeneous deposits were obtained on the surface of the Ti electrode, to a current of -210 mA during 120 minutes to a constant linear flow velocity of 15 Lmin-1 was achieved 97% of silver recovery from industrial wastes. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy studies corroborated the presence of silver on Ti flat electrode. In addition, the silver concentration in the solution after the experiments was 1 ppm below environmental requirements. This indicates the viability of a filter press-type electrochemical reactor with vertical orientation (REOV-01) for silver recovery from radiographic filmsIntroductionIn recent years, the industrial sector has shown an increase in the use of silver due to new applications in different areas. In sectors such as photography, the consumption of silver has declined as a result of the boom in digital photography. However, the use of silver in radiographic applications has not shown greater variation (47.16 Moz), as the image quality is essential for diagnosis in various fields, such as medicine. All the silver used in photographic applications is discarded completely (solid or in effluent). At the present, several countries have been involved in silver recovering from industrial wastes due to the economic value and environmental impact they represent. The main source of silver recovery is the wastes generated by the photographic sector. Various technologies have attempted to recover silver contained in these wastes. However, they have not fully satisfied the requirements of maximum recovery, nor environmental level (less than 5 ppm) of silver in effluents [1,2]."

Jan 1, 2014

By S. K. Kawatra, T. C. Eisele

"Recent advances in microbiology have made the application of biotechnology to metallurgical processes possible. Hydrometallurgy stands to gain the cost from the use of microorganisms, as they are useful for both dissolution aids and for removing metals from solution. The development of genetic engineering techniques promises to greatly increase the importance of bioprocessing of metals and minerals by the year 2000.In this paper, the basic effects of microorganisms on metallurgical processes are reviewed, and the applications which are currently either in use or near being used are presented. Representative data collected at Michigan Technological University is also given.IntroductionMany hydrometallurgical operations exist which are thermodynamically possible, but which are industrially impractical due to slow kinetics, high reagent costs, or the need for a highly corrosive environment. However, recent discoveries in microbiology indicate that in many cases these difficulties can be reduced greatly by the action of bacteria and other microorganisms (1-8).A major advantage of using living organisms in hydrometallurgy is that once the culture is established the microorganisms produce their own reagents either from the material being processed or from low-cost nutrient supplements. They thus allow extremely complex chemical reactions to be carried out at reasonable cost. The major drawback of using microorganisms is their inability to tolerate extremely high temperatures, excessive concentrations of toxic metals, or very highly acidic, alkaline, or corrosive conditions. However, the complex reactions which bacteria make possible frequently eliminate the need for such extreme conditions. Also, in recent years a number of organisms have been isolated from such exotic environments as hot springs and deep-ocean vents which can tolerate temperatures higher than was previously thought possible for any organism, and can catalyze a number of metallurgically important reactions (8)."

Jan 1, 1988

By H. Fukuyama

The wetting behavior of single crystalline MgO by fayalite-type slag melts has been studied by the sessile drop technique incorporated with high temperature X-ray radiography. The experiments were performed under oxygen partial pressures of 10-6 and 10-4 Pa at 1473 K. Mass ratios of iron to silica, Fe/Si~, in the slag employed were 1.4 and 2.0. To investigate the interfacial reaction, experiments using high density MgO crucibles were also conducted. The reactions at the interfaces were examined by Electron Probe Microanalysis. The contact angles between the slag melts and the MgO substrates were found to be relatively low, ranging from 30 to 10 degrees. The surface tension of the slag was 0.4 N/m for a slag of Fe/Si02 = 2.0. Two phases, magnesiowiistite and olivine, were observed at the interface. Interdiffusivity in magnesiowiistite solid solution was determined as a function of iron oxide content. Phase relations between magnesiowilstite and olivine, and the growth rates of both phases, are also discussed

Jan 1, 1996

By Luis W. Pommier

Large quantities of sea sludge containing halogenated organic compounds, such as PCB, oils and metals like arsenic and lead have accumulated throughout the years at the bottom of sea channels and harbors and are obstructing navigation and creating environmental problems which need to be resolved. A sludge from a California port would be dredged by suction pumps, it would be processed in a plant which would be built either on firm soil or on floating platforms. The sludge shows contents of up to 1 ppm of PCB, 15 % oil and 10 ppm of arsenic, which generates a very fetid odor. Bench scale work indicates that most of the contamination concentrates on the solid phase, in fact, only minor amounts of oil report to the sea water and can be readily removed by physical means. After separation of the sea water from the solids of the sludge by decantation, it is possible to solubilize the PCB, the oil and the metals into an organic solvent leaving a non-hazardous soil for disposal near the harbor. The PCB is dehalogenated during the solubilization process leaving a liquor solution containing the oil and metals. The oil is extracted leaving an aqueous solution containing the arsenic. Further process extracts the arsenic from this solution rendering the liquid non-hazardous. Transportation and disposal of the sludge is impractical. There are hundreds of thousands of tons of hazardous soils accumulated in each harbor, which would fill the hazardous waste disposal sites available and it would be, prohibitively expensive to do so. It is not possible to compare the costs of decontamination with a competitive method. If it were, the proposed process would be less expensive than transportation and disposal and it has the advantage of removing the liabilities from the Responsible party. After a full scale continuous pilot project is run to decontaminate a small, 500 cubic yards accumulation of this type of sludge in a California harbor, a full scale environmental project would be initiated. The decontamination of one million tons of sludge would be completed in five years.

Jan 1, 1995

By M. J. Adam

The Bureau of Mines is investigating the feasibility of partitioning complex sulfide minerals to simpler sulfide phases by sulfidation reactions. Such partitioning can afford opportunity to improve selective extraction of mineral constituents of value. This report describes research involving sulfidation partitioning of byproduct chalcopyrite concentrates from Missouri lead ore processing, and a Utah chalcopyrite concentrate from Cu ore processing. Small chalcopyrite samples were sulfidized with elemental S in glass capsules sealed after evacuating and backfilling with He, by heating for 1 to 24 h at specific temperatures in the range of 250? to 500? C, extending from below to above the boiling point of S (-4450 C).

Jan 1, 1987

By Marco Zurco, Claudia M. Mendez, Alicia E. Ares, Carlos E. Schvezov, Carlos M. Rodriguez

"Zinc-Tin alloys were solidified in horizontal form and the obtained results were analyzed. During solidification the distribution of temperatures were measured by using thermocouples located strategically along the length of the samples. From the measured temperatures the following parameters were derived; the local temperature gradient, the cooling rate and the velocities of the liquid and solids fronts. Comparing the structure of the samples and the values of these parameters it was found that the temperature gradient reaches minimum values of as low as - 0.6 °C/cm, and velocities of the fronts of around 0.1 cm/s. In addition, the grain size was measured along the samples. The results are presented and discussed in the frame of the results previously obtained for other alloys.IntroductionGenerally solidification leads to two types of grain morphologies: columnar and equiaxed. The origin of each one has been the subject of numerous theoretical and experimental researches in the field of metallurgy for many years [1-7]. The columnar-to-equiaxed transition, CET, is considered as an object of high technological relevance with respect to the directional solidification of metallic alloys. This structure transition may be sharp or gradual and it has been reported to be dependent on thermal conditions associated with the casting process, including melt convection, heat transfer coefficients at the metal-mold interface, growth rates, thermal gradients, cooling rates, transport of solute, alloy composition, melt superheat, mold temperature, mold design, casting size, casting geometry, and the concentration of nucleating particles. As a consequence, it is critical for industrial applications to understand the physical mechanisms which control this transition during solidification. Many studies highlight the importance of the relative growth of the equiaxed and columnar grains and develop expressions or numerical procedures to describe a criterion for the CET. A number of experimental investigations reported in the literature suggest that the CET occurs when GL in the melt reaches a minimum critical value [5-7]."

Jan 1, 2012

By A. G. Cecutti

A brief overview of the known significant health effects of both Nickel and Cobalt will be presented. Some time will be given to the current research activities, especially for Nickel. Emphasis will be placed on some of the controversial issues associated with their health effects.

Jan 1, 1988

By James C. Barker

Near Rainbow Mountain in the east-central Alaska Range an ultramafic complex forms a sill-like intrusion composed of dismembered bodies exposed along the south side of the Denali Fault and Broxson Gulch Thrust. The complex comprises dunite and peridotite with lesser gabbro, which together exhibit poorly defined, steeply-dipping compositional layering. The complex hosts four types of copper-nickel occurrences which have characteristic platinum-group elements (PGE), gold, and cobalt distributions. Three of the occurrence-types are considered to have formed as a result of primary mineral segregations which developed during intrusion of the complex. The fourth type of copper-nickel occurrence formed as a result of post-magmatic hydrothermal fluids at intrusive contacts. Scanning electron microscope examination indicates that PGE occur as micron-size telluride and arsenide minerals.

Jan 1, 1987

By Wenshan Zhang

The industrial production experiments on Zn, Mn simultaneous leaching, impurity removal and ZnMnO2 simultaneous electrolysis were carried out. The process flow, technical requirement and research results about the experiments were discussed and the good technical quail-fixation and high quality of products were obtained. Reactions for each major technological process have been expatiated based on the thermodynamic analysis.

Jan 1, 2006

By S. S. Ryu, J. C. Kim, H. Lee, Y. D. Kim, I. H. Moon

"Recently, W-Cu alloy becomes one of the very important candidate materials for heat sink and packaging in the field of microelectronics due to its good thermal properties. The metal injection molding of W-Cu powder can satisfy the requirement for mass production of complex shaped parts in microelectronic devices. In the present study, the application of MIM process to the nanostructured W-Cu powder prepared by mechanical alloying was investigated. The multi-component binder system of 45PW+ l 5BW+ 30PE+ I OSA was proven to be suitable one for the MIM of the W-Cu composite powders by adopting the debinding cycles of multi-stage in N2 and H2 atmospheres. Other process conditions for the MIM of the nanostructured W-Cu composite powder were also studied. The MIM debinding part of W-30wt.%Cu was sintered to the relative density of more than 96% by sintering at 1200 °C for !hour in H2 atmosphere. Such an improvement of sinterability was attributed to the intrinsic homogenous and fine mixing state of W-Cu phases in nanostructured W-Cu composite powders, and also partly to the effect of the activated sintering by the presence of impurity introduced during the extensive milling.IntroductionW-Cu alloys have been widely used for heavy duty electrical contacts and arcing resistance electrode(1-2). Recently there has been a growing interest in this W-Cu alloy because of its superior thermal managing properties and its high micro wave absorption capacity(3). Such W-Cu alloy parts are conventionally fabricated either by the Cu infiltration sintering technique or by hot pressing of W-Cu powder mixtures. However, these conventional PM techniques are hardly applicable for mass production of small size parts with a complicated shape such as the parts required for microelectronic devices. The metal injection molding(MIM) technique is potentially applicable for the mass production of small and complicatedly shaped parts compared with other PIM forming techniques."

Jan 1, 1998

By Eren Hüseyin Obuz

In this study, the leaching kinetics of rare-earth elements were investigated using HCl and HNO3 solutions. A standard crushed complex ore was utilized as raw material. The complex ore (particle size of under 54 μm) contains REE (Ce, La, Nd, Pr, etc.). Different leaching durations were selected for the kinetic studies. The highest leaching efficiency was obtained in HCl solution, and the leaching mechanism was identified to diffusion through a product layer. The rate constants of Ce, La, Nd, and Pr were calculated as 1.08 × 10−2, 0.86 × 10−2, 1.87 × 10−2, and 1.34 × 10−2 h−1, respectively.