Search Documents

By P. L. Sibrell

The U.S. Bureau of Mines has tested cyanide leaching for recovery of palladium (Pd) from spent petroleum processing catalysts. Three different catalyst samples were supplied by a spent-catalyst processor. These catalysts consisted of a zeolite base and contained 0.4 to 0.7 pct Pd. During alkaline cyanide leaching, the catalysts exhibited ion-exchange properties due to their zeolite matrices. Hydrogen ions were released from the zeolite in exchange for sodium ions in solution, resulting in a significant decrease in solution pH. This could present a safety hazard because of the potential for release of toxic hydrogen cyanide gas. A pretreatment .step where the catalysts were contacted with a 1.0M sodium hydroxide solution was found to prevent the pH shift from occurring. Following the sodium hydroxide pretreatment, two stages of leaching at 160 °C with solution containing 1 pct sodium cyanide and 0.1M sodium hydroxide gave at least 75 and up to 95 pct Pd recovery. The Pd was quantitatively recovered from the leach solution by thermal decomposition in an autoclave at 250 °C for 1 h. The Pd content of the precipitate was over 50 pct. Thermal decomposition also decreased the total cyanide content of the barren solution to less than 0.2 mg/L. The catalyst leach residues passed the Federal Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure and the California Waste Extraction Test, indicating that landfill disposal of the leach residues would be acceptable.

Jan 1, 1995

By Cheng Fang, Zhou Lie-xing, Peng Jin-hui, Guo Sheng-hui

This article discusses the behavior of temperature and microwave thermo gravimetric analysis characteristic of ammonium paratungstate in a microwave field. Experimental results show that when 12g of material is place in a microwave with 900W of power, paratungstate’s temperature rises at 70°C/min. This results in paratungstate’s temperature being 980°C after 14 minutes. Compared with thermo gravimetric analysis characteristic, former two-step process of paratungstate microwave calcined completed ahead of schedule, after two-step process reaction is more intense,Paratungstate warming is more rapidly, the reaction time is much shorter; According to XRD and SEM, the product is high purity, the crystal particle size is uniform, and the grain size is fine.

Jan 1, 2015

By Kimberly Conner-Mills

Due to increasingly stringent worldwide environmental regulations for gaseous, aqueous and solid waste emissions, conventional smelting technology cannot effectively process arsenic containing materials. Many globally significant copper properties have copper sulfide mineralogy that has a high arsenic content present as enargite with significant contained precious metals. As global copper, silver and gold demand increases while significant world resources decrease, treatment of sulfide orebodies with enargite is becoming increasingly important. Methods to selectively dissolve and fix arsenic, leaving behind clean copper and precious metals-bearing concentrates could effectively treat these ores.

By Julyana G. Santana, Esperidiana A. B. Moura, Vijay K. Rangari, Olgun Güven, Angel Ortiz, Rene R. Oliveira

Ethylene-vinyl alcohol (EVOH) copolymers are widely used in the food packaging industry as gas barrier properties to oxygen, organic solvents, and food aromas. EVOH is very sensitive to moisture and its gas barrier ability deteriorates in high relative humidity conditions.This work aims to prepare flexible films based on melt-blending high density polyethylene (HDPE) and ethylene-vinyl alcohol (HDPE/EVOH/EVA blend) reinforced with graphene oxide (GO). The HDPE/ EVOH/EVA/GO flexible films were prepared by twin-screw extrusion and blown film extrusion processing. The flexible films samples were characterized by tensile tests, TG, DSC and FE-SEM analysis and the correlation between properties was discussed. In addition, the oxygen permeability tests were performed at 23 °C, 0 and 90% relative humidity using an OX-TRAN (MOCON Inc.).

Mar 1, 2017

By Lanre M. Oshinowo, André Bakker

"An understanding of the parameters that govern the just-suspended impeller speed, Njs, and the distribution of solids, is critical to the efficient operation of hydrometallurgical and other processes involving solid-liquid suspensions. In this paper, the distribution of solids in stirred tanks under a range of solids loadings (0.5 to 50 vol%) was predicted using CFD and validated against experimental data obtained from the literature. The multiphase flow is modeled using the Eulerian Granular Multiphase model. This paper will also review the established design parameter Njs in the context of scale-up and compare it to the quality of solids dispersion as a means of assessing correct scale-up in suspension tank design. The results of this study will describe a straightforward procedure to obtaining comprehensive information about reactor behavior with complex CFD models.The performance of hydrofoil impellers and a 45° pitched-blade turbine at suspending solids under different agitation speeds was studied. Both single and dual impeller operation have been evaluated. The settled solids fraction for speeds below N js, and the cloud height for impeller speeds above Njs were predicted. The CFD predictions are in good agreement with experimental literature data on velocity distribution and cloud height."

Jan 1, 2001

By Naixiang Feng, Kun Zhao

This work presents a two-stage aluminothermic reduction process for preparing Ti and Ti-Al alloys using Na2TiF6. Al-Ti master alloy and pure cryolite as co-products could be obtained. After the first stage reduction, the oxygen content of the metal product is reduced, and the second stage produces high-purity titanium or Ti-Al alloys with cryolite and Al-Ti master alloy as recyclable co-products.

Mar 1, 2017

By K. Verbeken, E. Wettinck, M. Verhaege

Iron (III) can easily and selectively be removed from acidic sulphate solutions with organo-phosphoric acids like Di-2-Ethyl-Hexyl-Phosphoric Acid [D2EHPA]. Stripping of the iron (III) loaded organic, however, is difficult unless highly concentrated inorganic acid solutions are used. In this paper results are shown for the enhanced stripping of iron from loaded D2EHPA by electro-reduction. The loaded solvent is contacted with a 2 M H2SO4 solution, which is continuously recycled in an electrochemical reactor where iron (III) is reduced to iron(II). As iron (II) is not extracted by D2EHPA, the equilibrium for iron (III)- D2EHPA is shifted towards the aqueous iron (Il)-sulphuric acid solution. The electro-reduction unit is a vessel with separated catholyte and anolyte chambers. The catholyte is the actual stripping solution where iron (III) is reduced to iron (II) on a stainless steel electrode. The anolyte is a 2 M H2SO4 solution where oxygen is evolved on a lead alloy electrode. A sintered glass plug separates the compartments. With this unit, enhanced stripping of iron from the solvent is possible under mild acid conditions [2 M H2SO4], and a concentrated ferrous sulphate solution can be obtained. The results shown have mainly been obtained by studying the parameters affecting the electro-reductive stripping of a D2EHPA loaded organic phase in a batch reactor. From an iron (IH)-saturated 20 vol. % D2EHPA solvent containing ~ 12.5 g/1 Fe (III) over 90% of the iron can be stripped in one stage with a 2 M H2SO4 solution at 50°C. It is shown that in this way it should be possible to obtain a concentrated ferrous sulphate solution which can be processed downstream to recover a pure iron product.

Jan 1, 2000

By A. Warczok

The oxidation and smelting of chalcopyrite, bomite, chalcozine and pyrite has been studied under simulated flash smelting conditions. The results of copper sulphide oxidation show that under constant oxidation conditions, the degree of oxidation drops sharply when the particle size is increased above a given range. This critical size range varies typically between 200 and 500 pm depending on the oxygen content in the gas phase. For bomite, chalcopyrite and pyrite, the critical size range increases with increasing iron content in the mineral and with increasing oxygen content in the gas phase. The extreme case is observed for pyrite in pure oxygen, where there is no effect of the particle size on the degree of oxidization. Microscopical observations of the oxidized products show the influence of different factors on the mechanism of oxidation and fragmentation of the sulphide particles. Based on microscopical analysis and phase identification of the oxidized products, a model has been proposed for the oxidation and smelting of copper sulphide particles in suspended state. The mathematical model describing the sulphide particle oxidation is supported by the obtained results. Using this model, it is possible to describe the role of particular factors in the sulphide minerals oxidation.

Jan 1, 1992

By Qingbo Yu, Qin Qin, Junxiang Liu

"Dry-granulation is a new process of molten blast furnace slag treatment and air is used as heat exchange medium. There are some shortages: poor effectiveness of granulation, high air-slag ratio and high energy consumption, which are the obstacles to popularize dry-granulation. Based on rotary cup atomization, the technique of recovering waste heat of molten blast furnace slag through waste heat boiler producing high pressure steam is exploited. The molten blast furnace slag is granulated to uniform small slag granules with high temperature, and slag granules pour into the waste heat boiler. It could produce steam, obtained in first row and second row tubes, when descending velocity of slag granules equaled 1.1mm/s and the Reynolds number equaled 7100. The application of the system for recovering waste heat from high temperature molten blast furnace slag has a significant meaning.IntroductionBlast furnace slag is one kind of solid waste in iron making process, which is discharged at the temperature range from 1723 to 1923K. In China, there was 0.162 billion tons of slag discharged in 2009, and the energy contained in the slag is equivalent to the energy in 9.4 million tons of coal equivalent. The sensible heat of molten slag is a very valuable waste heat source, so it is worthwhile to recover the sensible heat. At present, the molten slag is treated by a water quenching method. But in this process, the sensible heat is not recovered, moreover, an amount of water is consumed and harmful waste gas is discharged into the environment. Due to the considerations of energy conversation and environmental protection, the iron making industry pays close attention to dry-granulation, which is useful to obtain more benefits [1-4]. The sensible heat is recovered and an amount of water is saved by the method of dry-granulation. The amorphous content of slag granules obtained from dry-granulation is over 95% [5, 6], so the slag granules can be used as a perfect raw material for cement [7, 8].In the late 1970s, the Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd. and the Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries, Ltd. jointly undertook the research of rotary drum granulation. This method has several disadvantages: the processing capacity and efficiency are low, and it is not adoptive to operate continuously in production [9]. From 1980, Nippon Steel, NKK, Kawasaki Steel, Kobe Steel, Sumitomo Metal Industries and Nisshin Steel were engaged on air granulation, and the experiments were operated for 6 years on the blast furnace in Nippon Steel. In the process of air granulation, there was great power consumption. The complexity of structure and the great floor space of the air granulation device caused high cost of investment. In 1986, Ukraine exploited a new method of heat recovery referring to the technology of Continuous Casting and Rolling [10]."

Jan 1, 2011

By Murray Johnston

New measurements have been made on the equilibrium distribution of selenium and tellurium between molten slag and metal phases. Distribution coefficients of Se and Te between magnesia-saturated calcium ferrite slag and copper or silver alloys were measured over the temperature range 1473 and 1673 K under controlled oxygen patrial pressures of 10-11 to 10-0.68atm. The results demonstrate that the minor elements are present in the calcium ferrite slag as the selenide (Se2-) and telluride (Te2-) respectively, up to a PO2 of 10-6 atm. As conditions become more oxidising, Te undergoes a transition to the divalent oxide whereas Se does not. Increasing the temperature was found to enhance partitioning of the minor elements to the slag. In terms of activities, at 1573 K, Se showed strong negative deviation from the ideal behaviour in the slag, while Te showed only slight positive deviation.

Jan 1, 2006

By Kerri-Ann Hue, Kerry Hasapidis, Ken Babcock, Patrick O'Hagan

"Metallic nanoparticles exhibit properties that are significantly different from individual atoms or bulk materials. Their applications are diverse and have varying uses in areas such as cancer treatment, biochemical sensors, nanoelectronics, and drug delivery. For each application extensive characterization must be performed in order to probe the unique properties of these nanoparticles. In this study, ultra-high resolution mass sensors consisting of MEMs-fabricated, suspended microchannel resonators (SMRs) were used to determine the size and concentration of metallic nanoparticles. With femtogram (10- 15 g) mass resolution, ultra-high resolution mass sensors can weigh individual particles suspended in fluid, and so measure their mass, density, and size. Particle size analysis with these sensors provides excellent accuracy and resolution compared to mature technologies such as light scattering. This technique also provides quantitative information via the ability count particles.IntroductionThe unique electronic, chemical, and optical properties associated with nanoparticles vary with their size, shape, and composition[ 1-4]. These properties are attributed to increased surface area and nanosized mean free path of electrons to the particle surface. Nanoparticle colloidal solutions have been prepared and are commercially available. In recent years, noble metals such as gold, copper, and silver have been extensively researched[5-7]. In order to tailor the optical, electronic, and electrical properties of nanoparticles, size and shape must be controlled. For many applications a monodisperse colloidal solution is ideal. Methods of size characterization include Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), and Electrophoretic Mobility Measurements to name a few[6, 8]. Although TEM can provide shape and size distributions, sample preparation requires that samples be dried on a metal grid and cannot be analyzed in solution. DLS uses curve fitting algorithms that while useful for determining mean particle diameters are not ideal for polydisperse colloidal solutions. New technologies are therefore needed to accurately determine the particle size distributions of metallic nanoparticles."

Jan 1, 2011

By M. G. Silva-Valenzuela, A. T. Machado, F. M. S. Carvalho, J. R. Matos, A. A. S. Araujo

Electric arc furnace steel dust is a by-product of the steelmaking process and contains high amounts of iron and zinc and significant amounts of lead, chromium, and cadmium and others chemical compounds in minor proportion. However, the material recycling is very complex, mainly due to their mineralogical composition. In this study the characterization and application of this material is presented. Ceramics were produced with clay and variable amounts of steel dust. Th bulk material was fired between 800 and 1000 °C. The influence to insertion of this material on the ceramic composition on the mechanical strength, linear shrinkage, water absorption, apparent density and bending strength of the ceramic samples was investigated. A blend of clay with 5% dus presents potential for use in structural ceramics production.

Mar 1, 2017

By Dhanesh Chandra

Metal carbonyls are of great importance in chemical vapor deposition (CVD), composite materials fabrication, and other near-net shape technologies. Carbonyl CVD application applies to deposition of high-purity metallic/alloy coatings. Vapor pressures of solid Os3(CO)12,Rh6(CO)16, Ru3(CO)12, Ir4(CO)12, Re2(CO)10, Co2(CO)8, Cr(CO)12,, and W(CO)6carbonyls have been measured using gravimetric-torsion effusion system. The vapor pressure data is used for many low and high temperature CVD applications. Interesting decomposition/disproportionation vaporization behavior has been notedfor Rh6(CO)16, Ru3(CO)12 and Co2(CO)8. The vaporization studies of Rh6(CO)16 showed virtually complete decomposition to Rh metal and the measured molecular weight of the effusing gas from the solid Rh6(CO)16 was 27.75 g/mol, close to that of carbon monoxide as compared to 1065.56 g/mol for the value of solid Rh6(CO)16. Electron microscopic characterization, X-ray line broadening results for Rh carbonyl has been performed on the vaporization product. However, Ru3(CO)12, Co2(CO)8 showed very complex behavior. The molecular weights of the vaporizing species have been estimated and the numbers of vaporizing species are proposed. For example, there was partial decomposition of Ru3(CO)12to(approx. 52%) metallic Ru and CO gas during vaporization, as suggested by the difference in the molecular weight of the vaporizing species of 107.58 g/mol compared to the actual value of 639.33 g/mol. The dimer Co2(CO)8 partially disproportionates to tetramer Co4(CO)12, monomer Co(CO)4, and CO gas. Whereas, the Os3(CO)12, Cr(CO)12,, and W(CO)6have shown virtually no disproportionation. The total vapor pressures of all the above-motioned carbonyls, partial pressures of various species, average molecular weights of the effusing gases, equilibrium constants for the vaporization reactions, their enthalpies, entropies, and Gibbs energies will be presented.

Jan 1, 2006

By A. Kiziltas, D. J. Gardner, C. W. Mcllwraith, J. W. Bridge, M. L. Peterson

"Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) tests were conducted on high-oil content, paraffin-based wax used in wax-coated granular composites. These composites make up the surface of synthetic Thoroughbred horse racetracks used in North America. The modulus and damping response from the DMTA tests were correlated with the dynamic triaxial shear strength response of the bulk track material taken at two different operational temperatures and at four strain rates. The purpose of these tests is to understand the mechanisms of shear strengthening of the bulk track material as the wax is heated through the first crystalline solid to liquid nominal transition temperature. Previous work using differential scanning calorimetry confirmed that under common operational surface temperatures, the wax coatings undergo distinct thermal transitions. The resulting increase in triaxial shear strength values affects the consistency of the racetrack which, in turn, can potentially affect Thoroughbred racing performance and safety of the track surface.IntroductionSynthetic granular composite materials are being used in nine Thoroughbred horse racetracks in the United States as well as in other tracks around the world. In one case, their use was mandated by the state of California in 2007 due to testimony that these tracks were significantly safer than traditional dirt tracks [1]. Several synthetic tracks have shown substantial reductions in injuries since switching to synthetics; one California track showed a 75% reduction in catastrophic horse injuries during the first year as compared to the previous year racing on a dirt track [2]. The composition of the tracks in the U.S. generally consist of silica sand (>70%), polymer fibers (<5%), and rubber particles (0-15%) all coated with a paraffin-based, high oil content wax [3, 4]. In a recent study of several synthetic racetracks, to include the track location in this study, the oil content ranged from 34 to over 44% by mass [5]."

Jan 1, 2011

By John Wallace

"Monitoring compound semiconductor crystal growth using multifrequency eddy currents for sensing illustrates some of the extreme problems of measurement and interpretation that are not often seen in metallic systems. Using sensor arrays and scanning sensors have produced a qualitative and quantitative understanding of some of the high temperature electrical conductivity mechanisms in several compound systems. A detailed review of the CdTe/CdZnTe data is presented showing some of the complexity in the data as opposed to what is found in elemental semiconductors.HistoryThe most common goal in the use of eddy current measurement in crystal growth is to deter-mine the curvature of the liquid solid interface during growth to test if the heat transfer estimates of the thermal design were adequate for single crystal growth[l]. This aim could be met but represented only a small fraction of the data that was produced observing a growth cycle. A secondary consideration was what could be discovered in the recorded data about the growth and subsequent heat treatment as the boule cooled. This is usually a more difficult task because a crystal growth process is not a controlled experiment so much as a process that continually sees modification. Using a sensor arrays or a scanning loop has produced a qualitative and quantitative basis for understanding some of the high temperature electrical conductivity mechanisms. The implication of the these measurements of electrical conductivity variations are important in that they reflect the complex defect states that will occur on cooling and heat treatment following crystal growth. In contrast to the complex behavior of the conductivity of these compound semiconductors in the solid and liquid state we have the very well characterized system silicon to compare. Initially the interest on using eddy currents to monitor compound semiconductors came from G. Westphal at the Texas; Instruments Company in 1987 to monitor aspects of growth and compounding of GaAs. This was followed by work on solution growth of HgCdTe with D. Witter. The initial interest in the use of eddy cur-rents for monitoring CdTe crystal growth came from Prof. Wilcox at Clarkson University in the practical interest to determine and control the crystal interface curvature during vertical brigdeman growth. The first actual work was done by one of his former students. G. Neuge-bauer at the II-VI Corporation which was carried on by G. Rosen at Clarkson and R. Shetty at II-VI Corporation and with A. Socha at Johnson-Matthey Electronics. The work on CdTe extends over four years and yielded sufficient data to allow one to evaluate the utility of the information produced as compared to what could be obtained from monitoring an elemental semiconductor such as silicon."

Jan 1, 1997

By Benjamin Kohler, Amelinda Olson, Marc Snyderman, Chanaka De Alwis, Mike Lewis, James Cox, Matthew Call, Julia Kluck

UTRS Inc. has developed a novel two-step method to extract commercially viable titanium alloys (patent pending no. 20130164167[1]). This approach has proven its potential to produce a variety of titanium alloys (Ti-6Al-4V,Ti Al ,etc.,) x y and has demonstrated a number of advantages over the current commercial titanium production process. Additionally, the UTRS Process operates without producing CO2 and eliminates the use of TiCl. Step 1: Aluminothermic reduction makes available many types of ores that could otherwise not be used. Due to the aluminothermic reduction technique and the composition of the ore,metal extracted from this step will inherently contain non-titanium elements. Step 2: Electro-refining removes undesirable elements from the thermally extracted titanium. This refined metal has a dendritic morphology with a wool-like appearance that is referred to as “titanium wool”. This new morphology of titanium allows it to have a diversity of endproduct types from titanium powder to bulk titanium.

Mar 1, 2017

By Mariana M. Arantes, F. R. Valenzuela-Díaz, Olgun Guven, Vijay K. Rangari, Julyana Santana, Esperidiana Moura

Nowadays, the development of polymeric materials reinforced with residues of vegetal fibers is becoming popular for application in different segments, from the automotive to the civil construction and furniture industry. Vegetal fiber residues may be used as reinforcement of the recycled polymer materials, for instance, to produce foams to packaging or to thermal and acoustic isolation for green building application. This work is focused on the development and characterization of recycled-HDPE/EVA foam reinforced with fiber residues from babassu coconut epicarp. Firstly, composites based on recycled-HDPE/EVA blend reinforced with babassu coconut fiber were obtained by melting extrusion process. The composites were then extruded in a special single screw for foaming. The foam samples were submitted to mechanical tests, density measurement, DSC, TG, and FE-SEM analysis.

Mar 1, 2018

By R. David Prengaman

During the past several years a new insoluble lead anode has been developed for copper electrowinning. The new anode consists of a rolled lead-calcium-tin alloy sheet attached to a slotted copper bus bar by a soldering process which produces a complete metallurgical bond between bar and sheet. The metallurgical bond greatly reduces the resistance between the bus bar and the lead sheet and the high conductivity does not deteriorate during the life of the anode. The rolled anode thins uniformly and does not suffer preferential grain boundary or internal corrosion commonly seen in cast anodes. The lead-calcium alloy containing a high tin content corrodes slowly because the rolling process produces a uniform, fine grained structure. The wrought product is very strong and ductile; and contains no internal defects, segregation, cracks, or pores which can reduce the life of the anode. Because the anodes corrode uniformly, a high percentage of the anode thickness can be utilized thus extending the life of the wrought anodes. The anode alloy composition which is stable only in wrought form, produces exceptional resistance to passivation during current interruptions. First introduced into liberator cells, the new electrowinning anodes have been specified as the anodes of choice for every new SX-EW tankhouse constructed in the last two years. This paper describes the new anode, its method of construction, service history, and how it differs from present copper electrowinning anodes.

Jan 1, 1987

By J. Partinen

Drying is a unit process which has numerous applications in metallurgical process industry. Kumera Technology Center, being a worldwide equipment and process supplier, has developed sophisticated solutions for both direct and indirect drying. In conventional direct drum drying, the energy is taken from combustion of fossil fuels, requiring energy input and emitting considerable amount of off gases. In modem copper smelters, thermal energy from the off gases is recovered in waste heat boilers making the steam available. Using that steam as the energy source for concentrate drying, the total volume of off gases can be considerably reduced and releasing of harmful combustion gases into the atmosphere can be avoided. Kumera Technology Center has recently developed and promotes a new steam drying process for drying of copper concentrates. In the development of the new dryer, Kumera&apos;s approach has been to combine the best properties of both the steam dryers and the drum dryers. In the design special attention has been paid to overcome problems of excessive wear and clogging and to reduce the required maintenance operations. In this paper the environmental issues and energy consumption related to both direct and indirect drying processes are discussed. The estimated operation costs and emission levels are compared, based on calculations and the data collected from industry. Finally, the development project of the Kumera Steam Dryer is briefly reviewed

Jan 1, 1999

By Denise Corrêa de Oliveira

Household zinc based batteries, dry and alkaline, has become the most popular sources of electrical energy, and are widely used. Because of their heavy metals content such as mercury, zinc and manganese, spent batteries cannot be directly placed in common landfills without a pretreatment. As a municipal solid waste, these batteries may cause serious health problems and environmental impacts. These damages can be reduced by recovery (which means saving natural sources and energy), recycling and adoption of cleaner technologies. Although this worry has been increasing recently, and producers are doing efforts to reduce the mercury content, batteries still need proper safe disposal conditions or recycling processes. This work presents the efforts in progress to characterize and recycle mixed - dry and alkaline - spent batteries, by using low cost unit operations. Some possible recycling stages and recovery parameters of metals as zinc and manganese are also discussed.

Jan 1, 2001