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By Maria Leikola, Joseph Hamuyuni, Petteri Halli, Fiseha Tesfaye, Mari Lundström

In a race to save the planet of its rapidly depleting natural resources, the use of Secondary Raw Materials (SRMs) as replacements in several processes is currently intensively pursued. In fact, this is currently one of the European Union (EU)’s mandates. Valorization of SRMs is consistent with circular economy, where resource efficiency is maximized for the benefit of both businesses and the environment. In line with this mandate, this paper focuses on investigating process phenomena related to hydrometallurgical recycling of Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) dust. In the experimental study, selective dissolution of zinc and other metals is investigated to acquire a recyclable leach residue. Based on the experimental and theoretical investigations, zinc could be extracted from the EAF dust and a recyclable leach residue produced, having chemical composition suitable as a feed material into electric arc furnace.

Mar 1, 2018

By J. A. S. Tenorio, K. S. Barros, D. C. R. Espinosa

Considering the risks involving the use of cyanide, other complexing agents have been evaluated for the treatment by electrodialysis of the effluent of brass electrodeposition and among them, EDTA is interesting since it has been already tested for many years to separate ions. The main objective of the present paper was to evaluate the occurrence of fouling and scaling on the surface of the anion-exchange membrane HDX 200 by the construction of chronopotentiometric curves and speciation diagrams in different conditions (pH between 10–12 and proportion of cupric ions of 30%, 50%, 70%). According to the results, the chronopotentiometric curves did not show additional inflexion points typical for the cases which occurs fouling and scaling for the pH values evaluated, which is in accordance with the speciation diagrams of the solutions constructed with the aid of Hydra-Medusa software. Hence, the pH and the proportion of cupric ions did not show influence on the curves behavior.

Mar 1, 2018

By Ari Jokilaakso, Dmitry Sukhomlinov, Keiran Holland, Pekka Taskinen, Ville Naakka

This study is focused on distribution of Co, Ni, Ag, Au, and Pd between molten copper and molten copper sulfide (‘white metal’) phases in copper converting conditions. The behavior of the elements selected was studied experimentally at 1300 °C and at various sulfur dioxide partial pressures (0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, and 1 atm). The experimental technique employed involves a high temperature equilibration followed by rapid quenching in ice water, with subsequent quantitative elemental analysis of the equilibrium phases with an electron micro probe analyzer. The distribution coefficients LCu=wm Me determined in this work can be arranged in the following sequence: Co < Ag < Ni < (Au, Pd).

Mar 1, 2018

By Victoria Vaccarezza, Corby Anderson

Due to the demand for rare earth elements for everyday technology and applications, there has been much research initiation into the extraction and recovery of rare earth elements. An otherwise unknown mineral, eudialyte is a zircon silicate consisting of rare earth oxides, specifically the heavy REO yttrium (III), with only trace amounts of thorium and uranium. The first part of this project aimed at finding an efficient way to liberate and upgrade eudialyte to concentrate the REO content. A combination of gravity and magnetic separation techniques were employed, resulting in limited success. The second part looked at the hydrometallurgical processing of eudialyte through various leaching experiments with sulfuric acid. In all, this project will discuss why certain processes were utilized over others, as well as the difficulties that arose during processing.

Mar 1, 2018

By Min Chen, Haohua Deng, Xiaoao Li, Nan Wang, Guangzong Zhang

Grain size and porosity of the produced lime from limestone in early converter slag and the influence of slag temperature in the range of 1300–1400 °C were investigated. The experimental results showed that both the grain size and porosity of the produced lime depended significantly on the slag temperature. After the complete decomposition time of limestone, grain size and porosity changed under the role of CaO grain growth. Grain size evolved sharply with slag temperature, which was illustrated by an analysis on the relationship between grain size and reaction time. Meanwhile, higher porosity was reached at 1400 °C due to the higher concentration gradient of CO2 between the reaction interface and slag bulk. A proposal to obtain the produced lime with finer grain size and higher porosity was given in this paper.

Mar 1, 2018

By Brajendra Mishra, Mark L. Strauss, Gerard P. Martins

Nearly the entire worldwide production of europium is recovered, as a minor constituent, from mining bastnäsite, monazite ore, or ion absorbing clays. However, this research indicates a process to recycle europium from waste lamp phosphors as a strategy meet the demand for europium. In this process, waste fluorescent lamp powder is retorted, sieved, leached, and precipitated to produce a mixed europium/yttrium rare earth oxide (REO). Europium is separated from yttrium by selectively reducing Eu(III) to Eu(II) using zinc powder and precipitating europium (II) sulfate from solution using sulfuric acid. Screening experiments were conducted observe the effect of pulp density, precipitation time, entrance pH, and stoichiometric ratio sulfate upon the grade and recovery of europium (II) sulfate. The best conditions to maximize grade and recovery of europium (II) sulfate were a 1 h precipitation time, 10 the stoichiometric ratio of sulfate, 100 g/L mixed REO, and the entrance pH equal to 3. The maximum grade of europium sulfate was 95.93%, and the maximum recovery was 73.32%.

Mar 1, 2018

By Liangying Wen, Zhehan Liao, Jian Xu, Chenguang Bai, Chengfeng Sun, Kaihui Ma, Yang Xu

The difference on particle density causes mass and size segregation in the blast furnace throat, causing poor permeability in radial and circumferential direction. Understanding the effect of density difference on particle spatial-temporal distribution helps stabilize smooth operation and improve energy ef ficiency of blast furnace iron-making process. Based on discrete element method simulation, the influence of density difference on particle segregation behaviors is quantitatively characterized by the proposed method when the binary-sized particles are charged from parallel-type hopper of blast furnace. The results show that increasing the 4 mm particle density aggravates the mass segregation in circumferential and radial direction, and the maximum standard deviation of each ring reaches as great as 0.415. For size segregation, the difference on average mass fraction of small particle between center and edge ring decreases from 0.373 to 0.301. When increasing the 6 mm particle density, the similar particle segregation behaviors could be obtained.

Mar 1, 2018

By Wei-Tong Du, Zheng-Lei Guo, Yu Wang, Shu-Chao Wang

The influence of bottom blowing a CO2–O2 mixture on the bath temperature of a vanadium extraction converter was studied by using the characteristics of CO2 with weak oxidizing. It was studied in two aspects: oxygen content and temperature. The experiments showed, when the ratio of the mixture of CO2–O2 was 2:8 at 1300 °C, the bottom blowing of the converter inhibited the heating up of the hot metal, thus keeping the temperature below the carbon vanadium transition temperature. At 1360 °C, the sensible heat absorption by CO2 was 1.44 times that absorbed by O2 per mole. Meanwhile, at 1300 °C, 20% CO2 released the chemical heat of 13.58 kJ. So with the increase of the CO2 ratio, the bath temperature was reduced. The research showed that the bottom blowing of a CO2–O2 mixture had an advantageous effect by decreasing the temperature of the vanadium extraction converter.

Mar 1, 2018

By Shaohua Ju, Feng Jiang, Jian Jian, Hongying Xia, Jinhui Peng, Libo Zhang

Microfluidic solvent extraction of zinc from sulfate solution was studied using di-2-ethyl hexyl phosphoric acid, D2EHPA, in sulfonated kerosene as diluent. The influence of different parameters on the extraction of zinc, such as flow rate, temperature, flow rate ratio, extraction concentration, and saponification ratio of extractant were investigated and the conventional and micro fluidic extraction were compared. Under the optimized conditions, micro fluidic extraction efficiency of zinc is up to 97.1%. It is better than that conventional extraction. Therefore, microfluidic solvent extraction can achieve high efficiency and low consumption of extraction process.

Mar 1, 2018

By Yijun Cao, Shengpeng Su, Guihong Han, Xiangyu Song, Yanfang Huang

Binder is indispensable in the production of iron ore pellets and the quality of pellets seems to be related to the interactions between binders and iron minerals. Humic acid is proved a suitable binder for iron ore pelletizing. In this paper, the interactions between humic acid and iron minerals were investigated by adsorption experiments and molecular dynamic simulations. Adsorption experi- mentalresultsshowthattheadsorptionofhumicacidonhematiteiseasierthanthat on magnetite, and the maximum adsorption capacities of humic acid on hematite and magnetite reach 17.1, 7.39 mg/g, respectively. The results of adsorption iso- therms indicate that the Langmuir model provides the best correlation of the experimental data, while the thermodynamics results demonstrate that the adsorp- tion process is a spontaneous exothermic process. Molecular dynamic simulations reveal that the interaction between hematite and humic acid is stronger than that between humic acid and magnetite. (cid:1) (cid:1) (cid:1)

Mar 1, 2018

By Duclerc Fernandes Parra, Vijaya Kumar Rangari, Washington Luiz Oliani, Ademar Benevolo Lugao, Nilton Lincopan

Due to its versatility and low cost, polypropylene (PP) is one of the most widely used polymers in the world, consequently in research and development of new products. The polypropylene modified was prepared by gamma irradiation in acetylene at 12.5 kGy dose, technical polymer also known as high-melt-strength-polypropylene (HMSPP). It was mixed with montmorillonite (MMT) clay and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) for bactericide activity. HMS-Polypropylene-clay-silver nanocomposites were manufactured using twin-screw extruders. Those materials were prepared by a melt mixing process via twin screw extrusion with a wide range of processing conditions. The polypropylene nanocomposites (PPNC) surfaces were exposed to gamma-radiation (60Co) source in presence of nitrogen as inert atmosphere at 1; 3; 5; 10; 20 and 50 kGy doses for modified the surfaces in order to enhance biocide activity. The samples surfaces were characterized by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDX) and evaluated by determination of bactericide effects. The results indicate the formation of structures predominantly intercalated of HMSPP nanocomposite. Contact tests for antibacterial activity of the hybrid polymer were applied against Escherichia coli (Gram-negative) and Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive) bacteria. The irradiations on the samples surfaces were insufficient to promote activity on contact biocide tests.

Mar 1, 2018

By Neale R. Neelameggham, Brian R. Davis

Organic agriculture is using natural materials such as degrading plant matter to replenish soils. This includes use of naturally degraded plant components such as peat, humus and weathered brown coals. Another important natural organic matter which has not been applied in agriculture thus far has been the black coal, Here we show that reversing the coal formation reaction by combined hydro-oxidation principles of biochemical engineering in natural conversion methods in an accelerated fashion. The modified coal soil additive can convert arid lands into farm lands for the future to sustain the population growth. In addition, the development of this new use of black coal will revive economically deprived areas from phasing out coal in the USA and Europe. This will show how the Stored energy in coal can be made renewable in helping plant growth under the soil to facilitate above ground photosynthesis.

Mar 1, 2018

By Z. Jing, C. Jun

High-purity Bi2O3 was prepared via extraction-preparation stripping method use BiCl3 leaching solution. Parameters such as oxalic acid concentration, phase ration, aging duration, feeding duration, were examined for their effect on the size and morphology of precipitate. The precipitate was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), particle size analysis, differential scanning calorimetry and thermal gravity analysis (DSC-TGA) and infrared spectroscopy analysis (FT-IR). Bi2O3 was characterized by elements analysis, particle size analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Bi2O3 product of 680 nm was obtained using 15 g/L oxalic acid, 1/1 phase ration, 0 min aging duration, 0 min feeding duration and calcinating at 500 °C for 2 h.

Mar 1, 2018

By Camille Fleuriault

Continuous development of lead recycling technologies has driven the increasing contribution of secondary lead in battery manufacturing over the years. This review presents and compares the different technologies available for pyrometallurgical processing of secondary lead materials. Smelting is most often achieved in reverberatory, blast, rotary or electric arc furnaces, using single or two stage routes. Thermal re fining is the most common technique used for the production of lead and its alloys. Some improvements in battery breaking technologies and emission control have also specifically contributed to improve the performance of the smelting and refining units. Recycling lead is facing the challenge of increasing production while meeting more and more stringent regulations. This review will also include an analysis of the current secondary lead market as well as an economic outlook for the years to come in regards to rapidly changing environmental standards.

Mar 1, 2018

By O. M. Popoola, A. P. I. Popoola, D. O. Okanigbe, A. A. Adeleke

The physical, chemical, mineralogical and morphological characteristic of the waste copper smelter dust (CSD) from Palabora Copper (PTY), Limpopo, South Africa, has been reported in the open literature. The bulk of this material falls within the −53 μm particle size fraction with a copper weight percent of 18.02 as determined with the XRF. The high presence of reactive gangue minerals such as mullite (42.97 wt%) and quartz (11.45 wt%) necessitates that the waste CSD be first upgraded of its copper value in the falcon gravity concentrator before subsequent hydrometallurgical treatment. As an initial step, a sample preparation was carried out to make the sample amenable to both real density determination and copper upgrade experiment, thus resulting in 97% of the particles passing the 300 μm sieve aperture (d97 = 300). The laser particle size analyzer (LPSA) was used to analyze the d97 = 300 and the results showed a %change from 90.82% to 95.59%, with a real density of 2.830 for the waste CSD. The result of the copper upgrade showed that test 8 with treatment combination of 80 rpm and 4.5 l/min gave the highest % copper grade of 1.37 which is still less than the %grade of copper in the feed (1.49%). It thus lead to the recommendation that another type of centrifugal separator that will allow the introduction of the feed as slurry so that the pulp density and feed rate can factored into the whole upgrade experiment, consequently reducing the significant amount of losses and the chances of an improved grade and recovery of copper from this waste CSD.

Mar 1, 2018

By Yuya Nakai, Kuniaki Murase, Kazuhiro Fukami, Atsushi Kitada, Ken Adachi

The resources of vanadium –titanium magnetite in China are very abundant, most of which are used to prepare titanium-rich materials. Titanium pigment, electric welding bar and titanium sponge are made from titanium-rich materials such as synthetic rutile and titanium slag etc. To fully utilize titanium resources, many production methods of titanium-rich materials were proposed. In this article, authors review on methods of preparing titanium-rich materials which are Electric Smelting Process, Reduction-rust Process, Selective Chlorination Process, Acid Leaching Process, and sum the advantages and disadvantages of them. Existing problems and possible tendency of production methods of titanium-rich materials are also discussed.

Mar 1, 2018

By Haibin Wang, Kaile Tang, Chenn Q. Zhou, Guangwu Tang, Zhixiang Cui, Ping Zhou, Armin K. Silaen, Hongjie Yan, Zhi Wang

The submerged lance smelting furnace (SLS) for copper smelting has been developed and used by Dongying Fangyuan Nonferrous Metals Co., Ltd. The technology has shown advantages such as high oxygen enrichment, good feed adaptability, short processing time, high SO2 concentration for acid plant, and auto-thermal operation. In this study, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was used to investigate the gas/matte two-phase flow characteristics and the chemical reactions in the SLS during typical operational conditions. The Eulerian-Eulerian approach was employed to model the phase interactions. The chemical reactions were modeled by calculating the mass transfer coef ficients and using the eddy-dissipation model. The simulation was conducted using the commercial software ANSYS Fluent®. The developed CFD model is able to predict the flow, temperature, and species distributions inside the SLS under various operating conditions.

Mar 1, 2018

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

The roasting is the key step for the extraction of vanadium from vanadium slag by calcification roasting–acid leaching process. In this study, thermogravimetric analysis and kinetic study of vanadium slag in the presence of calcium oxide was investigated. The maximum oxidation degree was slightly increased by increasing temperature from 700 to 900 °C then almost unchanged further increasing temperature to 1000 °C. The reaction mechanism was analyzed through both Sharp method and ln-ln method. Results showed that the mechanism the reaction in the a range of 0.1–0.8 corresponded to the random nucleation and subsequent growth, as represented as (G( a)=[ −ln(1−a)] 1/3 = kt. The apparent activation energy was calculated to be 3.5 kJ/mol according to Arrhenius equation.

Mar 1, 2018

By Jianhua Xin, Min Chen, Jin Xu, Hui Li, Nan Wang, Ming Chen

The kinetics study of blast furnace dust (BFD) recycling with flash reduction process at high temperature has been carried out using a high temperature drop tube furnace in laboratory scale. A combination characterization methods of chemical titration and SEM-EDS were used to track the reduction kinetics. The experiments using CO and CO2 mixtures with range of CO/CO2 (1:0, 1:1) at different temperature (1623–1723 K) and at different reduction time (1560– 2340 ms) were conducted. It was found that the reduction degree increases with the increase of temperature and reduction time as well as CO concentration. The carbon contained in the original BFD has weak in fluence on the reduction potential in the form of gasification. The unreacted core model was adopted based on the observation of the cross section and the measurement of iron element content, the effective diffusion coef ficient and reaction rate constant were determined and the rate controlling step was also analyzed.

Mar 1, 2018

By C. G. Bastos Andrade, F. R. Valenzuela Diaz, S. M. Toffoli

The climate change observed in the last decades, the increase of global warming, the melting of the polar ice caps, and the sea level rise have in common the non-sustainable development as causative agent. Different nations have mobilized joint efforts with the objectives of minimizing the impact of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, investing in the research and the development of new technologies in recycling, in biomaterials, environmentally friendly processes, and new fuel alternatives. This paper evaluates the efficiency of a Brazilian bentonite modified by acid attack, in the purification step of a waste oil to be used for biofuel production, that is, diesel from waste cooking oil (WCO). The following characterization test swere performed: XRD, CEC, XRF, SEM/EDS, specific surface area (BET), stereomicrography, kinematic viscosity, and spectrophotometry at 440 nm. The modified bentonite exhibited good purification capacity for WCO when compared to a commercial product.

Mar 1, 2018