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By Naixiang Feng, Shaohu Tao, Zhihui Wang, Yuezhong Di

"A novel vacuum aluminothermic reduction lithium process was developed in present work which used lithium carbonate, alumina and calcium oxide as raw material. The process mainly contained three steps. The first step is that LiA102 clinker is prepared in ambient environment, then metal lithium is vacuum extracted from LiAl02 clinker with aluminum power as reducing agent, and the last step is that alumina is leached from the reduction residue with a mixture of sodium hydroxide and sodium carbonate. The results show that the lithium reduction ratio can be over 95% under the conditions of reduction temperature 1423K, reduction time 3h, and aluminum excess 20%. The main components of reduction residue are CaO· Al203 and 12Ca0·7Alz03. The alumina leaching rate of calcium aluminate in residue is over 80%. High-whiteness aluminum hydroxide can be obtained by carbonation precipitation of the reduction slag leaching solution.IntroductionWith a density about half of water, lithium is with the lowest density of all solids, mere 0.5 g/cm3 at 20 °C [l]. Lithium is widely used in aerospace, aviation, nuclear-generated power and electric battery industry. Nowadays, over 90 % of the world's primary lithium is produced by molten salt electrolysis [2-4]. But the development of molten salt electrolysis will be effected by some factors: cost, environment, and so on. Vacuum thermal reduction may be used extensively in future because of its low-energy consumption, high-purity and short-cycle."

Jan 1, 2013

By Zhou Jun

Water-quenched samples were taken from a commercial flash furnace at three levels along its reaction shaft during operation at high feed rate. The samples were subjected to a series of analysis and observation. Such processes of the feed in reaction shaft as oxidation, desulfurization, melting, slag and matte formation and etc., variations of particle size along axial and radical direction of the shaft are investigated. The following smelting mechanism in reaction shaft named as “Multi-particle and multi-phase fusion model” is proposed: (1) Fragmentation and collision of concentrate particles take place simultaneously in reaction shaft with particle size growing up. Collision produces large-size “unit melt” which falls into the reaction layer in the settler bath. (2) In the settler reaction layer below the shaft, weak bath smelting reactions take place among the shaft products, producing final matte and slag which separate into two layers. (3) The processes in the shaft are all progressive along the whole height of the shaft. The predominant reaction in the shaft is oxidation, not reduction.

By Anja Pfennig, Thomas Böllinghaus, Marcus Wolf

During CCS components are exposed to a corrosive environment and mechanical stress which results in corrosion fatigue and is inevitably followed by the lifetime reduction of these components. The lifetime reduction of the cyclically loaded high alloyed stainless injectionpipe steel AISI 420C (X46Cr13, 1.4034) constantly exposed to highly corrosive CO2- saturated hot thermal water is demonstrated in in-situ-laboratory experiments (T = 60 °C, brine: Stuttgart Aquifer, flow rate: 30 l/h, CO2) in an environment similar to the on-shore CCS-site in the Northern German Bassin. In-situ tension-compression experiments were established simultaneously along with electrochemical measurements using a newly designed corrosion chamber in a resonant testing machine at a frequency as low as 30 – 40 Hz. In addition technical CO2 was introduced into the closed system at a rate close to 9 L/h. S-N plots, micrographic analysis and surface analysis of the fracture surface are demonstrated. X46Cr13 (surface roughness Rz = 4) reached the maximum number of cycles (12.5 x 106) at stress amplitude of 173 MPa producing a low scatter range of 1:3.5. Hydroxide and siderite layers were found on pits and crack surfaces. No typical fatigue limit exists. Pit corrosion prior to crack initiation may be identified as failure cause.

Jan 1, 2016

By Juliana Augusto Molari, Deborah Dibbern Brunelli, Leonardo G. de Andrade e Silva, Patricia N. S. Poveda

There are several additives aimed on improving the processing characteristics as well as mechanical properties of the plastic materials. Being polypropylene is one of the main polymers used in the plastic processing industry due to its easy processability and application versatility, was chosen as the base resin for this study. Additives can aid the processing of polypropylene, either by promoting a better slip between the chains (lubricants), or by contributing to nucleation and crystallinity (nucleating). In this study, the raw materials copolymer polypropylene, lubricant (internal and external action), organic nucleating agent (metallic salt) and inorganic nucleating agent (metallic oxide) were considered. Mechanical tensile tests, Charpy impact and spiral flow to verify melt index were performed to characterize the samples with additives and standard (copolymer polypropylene). The interference of these additives with polymeric matrix was observed.

Mar 1, 2018

By Jiang Feng, Li Chuanhua, Zhang Libo, Peng Jinhui, Ju Shaohua

Solvent extraction of Cu2+ from the leaching liquor contain Cu and Fe use a microfluidic technology. Currently, the conventional copper extraction process has many problems such as long distance and small driving force of mass transfer. In order to solve the problems, studies are carried out on the extraction process of low grade copper leaching liquid using Lix984N as an extractant with a new microfluidic solvent extraction technology. The effects of flow rate on the separation and extraction efficiency between Cu and Fe are studied, and the results show that a steady liquid-liquid interface of laminar flow is form in the micro-extractor, and extraction efficiency is 78 % and 2.5 % for Cu and Fe at the contact times of 0.84s respectively. Besides, the separation coefficient between Cu and Fe is as high as 140.04. The studied microfluidic technology has the advantages like improving extraction efficiency and reducing reaction time and providing the potential application in the hydrometallurgy extraction of Cu.

Jan 1, 2015

By Guanghui Li, Xuling Chen, Zhiyun Ji, Min Gan, Tao Jiang, Xiaohui Fan, Zhiyuan Yu

With the increase of proportion of biochar(without modified) replacing coke breeze, the physical strength of sinter decreases due to the faster burning speed of biochar. An investigation upon passivating biochar with boric acid was then conducted to strengthen sintering in this paper. A layer of thin film of B2O3 distributed in the surface of biochar was observed, which could reduce the contact between reaction gas and biochar. So the burning speed of biochar was decreased properly after passivation, and the combustion efficiency increased due to the inhibition of carbon gasification. The comprehensive effects of above changes could increase the maximum temperature of sintering bed, which facilitated to the mineralization of sintering mixtures. Eventually sintering indices got reinforced. Thus the indices of sinter as applying 40% passivated biochar were comparable with that of 100% coke breeze.

Jan 1, 2015

By Qingyun Huang, Junyi Xiang, Xuewei Lv, Chenguang Bai

The extraction of vanadium from mechanically activated converter slag was studied in dilute sulfuric acid solution. The effects of roasting and leaching parameters were investigated. The results show that Ca/V mole ratio, roasting temperature, leaching temperature, liquid-solid ratio, and particle size all have significant effects on vanadium leaching efficiency from calcification-roasted converter slag.

Mar 1, 2017

By S. Chama, P. Chishimba, Tina Chanda Phiri, J. Machona, S. Parirenyatwa, G. Kaluba, Y. R. S. Hara, D. M. Musowoya

The investigation focuses on leaching of copper (2 wt%), cobalt (0.5 wt%) and iron (2.4 wt%) from complex tailings material from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The highest recovery of copper and cobalt into the leach solution were 78 and 10%, respectively, under direct leaching with sulphuric acid. Higher recoveries (90% for copper and 96% for cobalt) were attained when the material was pre-reduced with coal for 1.5 h in the temperature range of 700–950 °C. The increased recoveries were due to metallisation of all the copper and cobalt which is in the silicate matrix. The effects of pre-reduction temperature and sample to carbon weight ratios were analysed and found to be important in; (i) achieving high recoveries of copper and cobalt and (ii) decreasing the amount of iron in the leach solution. The samples were characterised by atomic absorption spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques.

Mar 1, 2017

By F. Kassabji

This publication presents the main experimental and theoretical results on the recovery of aluminum scrap (dross and Used Beverage Can) without use of any addition of fluxing salts. Dross and UBC's processing experiments have been conducted in a rotary plasma furnace operating in the transferred and non-transferred mode, using different plasma gases. The investigation involved the treatment of more than 100 kg of dross and other aluminum residues using plasma torches with less than 100 kW power. The experimental work showed that this process is .far more economical and kind to the environment than the conventional route using a salt flux. An equilibrium thermodynamic calculation at elevated temperature makes possible the prediction of by-products at various temperatures for different plasma gases.

Jan 1, 1994

By Ana P. Paiva, Marc F. Comella, Sandra S. Reis, Joao N. Reis, M. Soledade Santos

"In this work, the influence of the malonamide structure, acidity of the aqueous phase and diluent on the equilibrium interfacial tension (IT) of N,N'-dimethyl-N,N'-diphenylmalonamide (DMDPHMA) and N,N'-dimethyl-N,N'-dicyclohexylmalonamide (DMDCHMA) in 1,2- dichloroethane (1,2-DCE), and DMDCHMA in toluene, with aqueous HCl, were investigated. IT isotherms were determined using the Du N ouy ring method. Densities of the organic phases were determined, and used to screen solute-diluent interactions. Formation of third phases was never observed; furthermore, ITs increase with the phase separation period, constant values being obtained for separation periods larger than 1000 seconds. Each malonamide interfacial efficiency at the oil/water interface is interpreted in terms of malonamide basicity, diluent polarity and malonamide - hydrochloric acid- diluent interfacial interactions.IntroductionFor several years now, N,N'-tetrasubstituted malonamide derivatives have been extensively investigated as liquid-liquid extraction agents since they were first proposed as the organic components of the DIAMEX process, with the aim of advantageously replacing tributylphosphate in PUREX [1]. Therefore, a significant part of research studies with malonamides appearing in the literature deal with the extraction of major and minor actinides in real or simulated spent nuclear fuels in nitric acid solutions [2]. Under typical experimental process conditions, the tendency shown by some N,N'-tetrasubstituted malonamide derivatives to aggregate in the organic phase, leading in a few cases to the formation of undesirable third phases, has been remarked and consequently thoroughly investigated [3, 4]. The increasing use of chloride streams as hydrometallurgical aqueous feeds is becoming a reality, and this fact is obviously deeply founded on an extensive research carried out to recover value-adding metals from these media. Following this trend, a number of N,N'-tetrasubstituted malonamides have already been screened for the recovery of iron(III) [5, 6] and platinum-group metals [7] from hydrochloric acid solutions. The results obtained are quite promising either in terms of total metal ion recoveries or selectivity patterns achieved. The formation of a third phase when iron(III) was extracted by the tested N,N'-tetrasubstituted malonamide derivatives has never been observed under the adopted experimental conditions, and the extraction data collected would need to be reinterpreted accordingly if any aggregation phenomena involving the considered extraction systems were to take place."

Jan 1, 2011

By Zhenyang Wang, Xingle Liu, Xiangdong Xing, Shan Ren, Hongen Xie, Jianliang Zhang

"Non-isothermal combustion experiments of different additive amount of bituminous (0, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 wt%) were conducted by synthesized thermogravimetry analyzer(STA409PC) from room temperature to 900°C in air. The changes of combustion characteristic parameters o f pulverized coals in different atmospheres are analyzed. The results show that DTG curves of coal combustion move to low temperature zones when the amount of bituminous increases. It indicates that both ignition and burnout temperature are lower, burnout time decreases, combustion characteristic index obviously increases, and combustion performance of blending coal are improved. The iso-conversional method involving Kissinger-Akah-Sunose (KAS) method was used for the kinetic analysis of the main combustion process. The results indicated that, when the additive amount of bituminous varied from 0 to 100 wt%, the value of activation energy which would sharply reduce if the additive amount of bituminous was under 60% increased from 133.94 kJ•mol-1 to 78.03 kJ•mol-1by using KAS method.IntroductionPulverized coal injection (PCI) to blast furnace (BF) is an important way for saving energy and reducing resource consumption during the ironmaking process. In order to acquire higher coal injection quantity, the relevant research topics in the field of pulverized coal combustion technology such as enhancing the efficiency of pulverized coal combustion, improving the combustion characteristics and reducing the harmful gas emissions and so on received extensive attention in recent years [1,2]. The combustion of blending coal when the appropriate proportion is selected for coal and also mixed well- distributed could give full play to the advantages of various types to make up the defects of single coal which is widely used throughout the world. So the blending coal injection to BF could produce a good impact on safety and economy for productive process. Therefore, a large amount of experimental researches on the combustion characteristic of blending coal for anthracite and bituminous were carried out by experts and scholars around the world [2-7].Nevertheless, the systematic research on the combustion behavior of anthracite with different content of bitumite in a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) is less. So in this paper, using the method of multiple scanning rate of conversion method, bituminous to promote the pulverized coal combustion reaction was studied to analyze its promotion mechanism of pulverized coal combustion reaction process, and the kinetic parameters of activation energy was also calculated, which to provide theoretical basis for the rationalization of resource utilization."

Jan 1, 2014

By Junmo Ahn

This study investigated leaching kinetics by alternative lixiviants for copper leaching from chalcopyrite (CuFeS2), the most abundant copper resource in the world. As a refractory sulfide mineral, chalcopyrite shows low copper extraction due to passivation on chalcopyrite surface. Also, decrease of copper grade with high portion chalcopyrite requires the alternative leaching procedure to increase copper recovery. Therefore, alternative lixiviants such as sulfurous acid and methanesulfonic acid (MSA) were tested for both concentrate and low grade ore to enhance copper extraction. Also, an oxidant, hydrogen peroxide, was compared to ferric to find out the improvement of leaching kinetic. In concentrate leaching tests, 30 g/L MSA showed the highest copper extraction (47%), compared to other lixiviants at 75 °C. Periodical H2O2 addition enhanced copper extraction, and above 90% of copper extraction was observed within 96 h by periodical addition of 0.6% H2O2 at 75 °C. The activation energy of chalcopyrite leaching by MSA and H2O2 achieved 40 kJ/mol, which is chemical reaction control. The results of low grade ore leaching tests indicates that no significant difference among lixiviants (H2SO4, H2SO3 and MSA) with ferric was observed, all of which achieved around 37% within 24 h at room temperature. However, significant increase of copper extraction (>80%) was observed at both 20 g/L MSA and 10 g/L H2SO4 conditions by the addition of 10% H2O2.

By John O. Burckle

For years, the measurement of fugitive emissions from the primary copper converter has defied all attempts based on inferential measurements, It has been concluded by virtually all investigators that the only dependable tech¬nique to measure these emissions would be to completely enclose an operating converter to permit the capture and measurement of all emissions. However, complete enclosure with a metal hood is difficult; many of the most serious fugitive emissions result during periods when the converter must be attended with crane-operated equipment. This approach would require either opening of the enclosure to permit the entry of large items of equipment or completely new methods for charging and tapping converters' The installation of the air curtain hooding system at ASARCO's Tacoma smelter has permitted a quantitative approach to the direct measurement of the fugitive for the first time. In this program, the fugitives captured by the air curtain were measured at a downstream sampling point in the exhaust side of the air curtain system during the various portions of the converter cycle. Emission factors were established for sulfur dioxide, filterable particulate (method 5), inhalable particulate, and selected trace elements.

Jan 1, 1983

By K. Krishnapisharody

The phenomenon of slag droplet formation under the action of gas-stirring in steel ladles has been analyzed with experiments conducted in a thin-slice room-temperature model using water and mineral oils as the working fluids. Visual and video investigations have been performed on the interface behaviour along with measurements of liquid velocities in both phases, using the Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) technique. The measured velocity data and observations on the interface break-up establish that the droplet formation results primarily from an instability mechanism at the interface.

Jan 1, 2008

By T. P. R. de Jong

Dual energy X-ray transmission imaging is extensively applied for safety luggage inspection. Its advantages are its rapid scanning rate (25 to 100 cm/sec) at approximately I mm resolution and simultaneous thickness independent metal identification. This is especially advantageous for secondary scrap metal inspection and automatic sorting. Other applications include metal product inspection, bale control, and waste processing. Recent progress in development of an automatic on-line sorter for bulk solids is presented and discussed. Besides various non-metal applications (solid fuels, wastes etc.) it appeared particularly effective in light metal sorting. As inspection tool better control of difficult to monitor solid bulk streams, batteries, bales and other related metals becomes possible.

Jan 1, 2003

By A. Patti, S. Reutzel, D. M. Herlach, L. Ratke, I. Egry

Cu-Co shows a metastable miscibility gap in the region of the undercooled melt. Undercooling of the melt below the binodal leads to separation of the melt into a Co-rich LI-phase and a Curich L2-phase. Experimentally, undercooling into the metastable miscibility gap is realised by means of electromagnetic levitation (EML), processing in drop tube (DT) and by melt flux embedding. As undercooling is large in these experiments, the velocity of the solidification front is high and the microstructure is frozen in instantaneously. Samples have been undercooled and solidified in the TEMPUS-facility (container less electromagnetic processing under weightlessness) during parabolic flight under reduced gravity conditions. Microstructures of solidified samples have been analysed and compared to those processed under gravitational conditions. The influence of convection on phase growth is much lower in reduced gravity. The microstructure shows spherical droplets of the minority phase, statistically dispersed in the majority phase.

Jan 1, 2004

By Niander A. Cerqueira, Pâmela Berçot, Afonso G. Azevedo, Victor B. Souza, Victor T. Bartolazzi, Bruno Padilha

In recent years, concern about environmental issues has become a parameter to consider in the projects in engineering. In order to reduce the impact that the tire improper disposal may result for the environment, we sought a solution to this problem. This article proposes the use of rubber scrap tires as fine aggregate in concrete production. The material produced was analyzed by a bending test, resulting in product quality, in particular for application in situations requiring a more ductile material.

Mar 1, 2017

By Peter Ehren

Global Geoscience is developing a Rhyolite Ridge project, a shallow boron-lithium resource deposit, located in Nevada about 25 km from Albermarle’s Silver Peak operation. The main minerals of interest are the boron mineral searlesite (40%wt) and lithium containing clay minerals. These minerals are found among principally calcite, feldspar, muscovite, dolomite, and quartz. The equivalent commercial value is about 7–9% boric acid (H3BO3) and 0.8–1.0% lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) equivalents. Selective agitated leach tests at SGS Lakefield laboratory showed that searlesite can be acid leached between 20 and 75 °C and at a pH lower than 4. On the other hand, lithium can be leached between 20 and 75 °C and at a pH lower than 1. In other words, lithium can be recovered at low temperatures if sufficient free acid is available, which gave the motivation to investigate heap leaching of the mineral. The PLS contains boric acid, magnesium, sodium, lithium, potassium aluminium, and iron sulfates.

By Y. A. Chang, J. Woodford, C. R. Kao

Reactive diffusion studies between NbC and Si were carried out at 1300 °C under a vacuum of 10-5 torr and a uniaxial pressure of 1 MPa. The annealing time ranged from 8 to 100 hours. The Si used was single crystal silicon; the NbC was hot-pressed powder compact. A NbSi2+SiC two-phase reaction layer formed with NbSi2 as the matrix and SiC as discontinuous particles. The microstructure of the reaction product is homogeneous, dense, and fine. The NbSi2 grain size and SiC particle size are in the micron range. The growth of the reaction products follows parabolic kinetics. Extrapolation of the data to zero thickness suggests an apparent incubation time of 3.5 hours. However, for short annealing time «60 hours), the thickness data can be approximated by linear kinetics with an initial growth rate of about 2 11m/hr. Based on these experimental observations, a growth mechanism for the reactive diffusion between Si single crystal and NbC powder compact is proposed. We propose that the nucleation sites for the SiC particles are at the voids of the NbC powder compact. This proposed nucleation mechanism offers a potential way of controlling the SiC particle size by changing the void size and void density of the NbC powder compact. This hypothesis, if proven to be true, will allow us to control mechanical properties of the composites by tailoring the SiC particles formed. It is also pointed out that the microstructure requires Si to be the dominant diffusing species and to diffuse through the reaction layer, while Nb and Conly have to undergo local rearrangement.

Jan 1, 1996

By Rolando Campos

In August 1993, the operation of Refimet Chile's copper custom smelter commenced at La Negra, near Antofagasta in northern Chile. Design smelter throughput corresponded to 235 000 tonnes of concentrate, calcines and copper cements arising from suppliers in the north of the country to produce 90 000 t/y of blister copper. Refimet had initially gained experienced in building and operating leaching, roasting and a blast furnace facility at Rungue, near Santiago, followed by Roasting at La Negra. The initial smelter project was based on conventional reverb- smelting and Peirce-Smith converting and the majority of equipment was 'purchased second-hand and rehabilitated or modified. After only 3 years in production, the treatment capacity was significantly improved by introduction of technical improvements to the original plant operating scheme. Recently, the plant was further expanded to an annual smelting capacity in excess of 400 000 t/y feed, corresponding to around 160 000 t/y copper production. This expansion, referred to as Phase 2, was achieved by modification of the reverb to oxy-fuel firing, addition of a further (second-hand) acid plant, fire refining and anode casting facilities. Parallel development of concentrate injection into enlarged converters-also took place. Following successful commissioning of Phase 2 expansion, initial engineering studies for a third expansion phase have been completed. This aims to use leading technology based on bath smelting of bone-dry concentrates in a Continuous Reactor. This paper provides an overview of the relatively short plant history, its development and improvements together with operating indices achieved.

Jan 1, 1998