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By P. Sergi

A method of characterizing gold ores with respect to processing is proposed. The method includes microscopical examinations to obtain qualitative and quantitative data that relate to processing. The main thrust, however, involves laboratory heavy liquid separation tests, laboratory amalgamation tests, and laboratory cyanidation tests to determine the proportions of gold that can be recovered in a conventional processing operation. Two different Brazilian gold ores: a quartz vein gold ore, and gold in metasediments were tested.

Jan 1, 1989

By Nourreddine Menad

Plastic materials have been associated with electric and electronic applications since the early days of the electrical industry. Plastics can amount to 30 percents of the scrap mass. Generally, they are treated with flame retardants such as halogenated ones and they can result in different toxic chemical compounds. These plastics can be used as combustibles in the recovery of copper and precious metals. However, during their combustion, halogenated flame retardants can produce dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzo-furans. The estimated thermodynamic data of several organic compounds resulting from combustion of electric and electronic scrap, have been used in conjunction with the program HSC to calculate the conditions for dioxin and furan formation. The results show that the formation of the dioxins is dependent on the quantities of carbon, hydrogen, chlorine and oxygen reacting in a given system, as well as on parameters such as temperature and pressure.

Jan 1, 1998

By F. Ajersch, P: Tsantrizos, K: Shanker

"TiN films have been deposited on various substrates by a novel reactive plasma technology. In this process, a nitrogen source (NH3 or N2) and TiCl4 are reacted in the jet of a plasma torch, and are deposited onto a substrate forming TiN films at a high growth rate ( > 2µm/min). It was found that the process parameters strongly affect the microstructure, thickness, density, and growth rate of the TiN films. These parameters include source of nitrogen (NH3 or N2, N/Ti ratio, temperature of substrate, and spray distance. In general, it was found that thick and dense coatings were deposited when the N:Ti ratio was kept low, and the substrate temperature was high. Also, for the series of conditions investigated, NH3 was found to give much better results than N2•. The limitations and advantages of this technique are also discussed in this paper.IntroductionTiN is an extremely hard material and is used in many wear applications, particularly as a protective coating on cutting tools to extend their Iife(1.2). Owing to its excellent chemical stability, TiN is also frequently used as a diffusion barrier in the electronics industry for sub-micron Al/TiN/Si ohmic contact systems (3) or as a coating on high-temperature resistant alloys in gas turbine applications (4), based on its good resistance to oxidation. Other applications include decorative coatings in the jewelry industry, and specialized applications such as solar energy absorbers and transparent heat mirrors(5).TiN films can be deposited/formed using various techniques. The main techniques of deposition are CVD (Chemical Vapour Deposition) and PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition). Each of these techniques can have many variations in equipment characteristics, reactants as well as a range of process parameters (pressure and temperature). In the CVD process, TiN is generally deposited onto a heated substrate where a chemical reaction takes place. The reaction can be one of reduction(6) (e.g.: TiCI4 + 0.5N2 + 2H2 --> TiN + 4HCI), of thermal decomposition(7) (e.g. decomposition of titanium dialkylamide), or of displacement (e.g. TiCI4 + NH3 --> TiN + 3HCI + 0.5CI2)' The displacement and reduction reactions are the most common."

Jan 1, 1994

By S. Shrivastava

A structure based model has been developed for the prediction of viscosities of K20-B20, melts. These melts exhibit an anomalous behavior of viscosity with continuous variation in B203 content. A maximum and a minimum are observed at low temperatures, which disappear on raising the temperature above the softening range. The addition of K20 to the borate melts causes two opposing phenomena: (1) depolymerization effects and the related breakdown of network structure resulting in the formation of singly bonded oxygens, which weakens the structure and hence causes a decreases in viscosity, and (2) the formation of four coordinated borons (BO4 tetrahedra) which strengthen the structure leading to an increase in the viscosity. The structural changes taking place in these melts on varying the temperature and the alkali content have been reviewed and are incorporated in developing this model. The predicted values are in excellent agreement with the experimental values over the whole temperature and composition range.

Jan 1, 1992

By Adriana de Aquino Soeiro da Silva, Joao Alves Sampaioa, Luiz Carlos Bertolino, Francisco Manoel Garrido, Marta Eloisa Medeiros

"Brazil has a large agricultural potential and its production success is related to the chemicaland physical soil characteristics. Therefore, the demand in the use of a great quantity offertilizers to compensate the low amount of nutrients in the soil includes about 40% of foodproduction costs. In order to develop economical alternatives to traditional fertilizers, rockswith potential use in agriculture will be studied. In this work the potassium rock, a greensandslate, will be chemically and structurally characterized for the development of a potassiumthermophosphate. This alternative fertilizer will be obtained based on a fusion of a ponderedmixture of potassium, magnesium and phosphate rocks to be applied in the Brazilianagriculture. Preliminary characterization results indicate that the greensand slate presents ahigh percentage of glauconite, quartz and micas.Keywords: Potassium thermophosphate, alternative fertilizers, greensand slate.IntroductionBrazil has a great agricultural potential and its production success is closely related to thesoil's chemical and physical characteristics. However, the country's soils present lownutrients content and high acidity due to weather conditions. Thus, the use of a high amountof fertilizers makes up for the soils' lack of nutrients and accounts for 40% of food productioncosts. Therefore, research on obtaining new alternative fertilizers is a constant worry due tothe increase on food demand [ 1].The lack of raw material for the preparation of NPK fertilizers in Brazil is a concern and theissue of potassium fertilizers a priority. Such a fact is because in 2008 only 608.000 tons ofKCl were produced, corresponding to just 10% of the Brazilian necessity. Thus, the use ofrocks as agricultural nutrients can contribute to reduce the need for industrial fertilizers.This way, the development of a new agricultural raw material originated from a rock thatalready exists in the country's soil is of great importance for the mineral and agriculturalsectors."

Jan 1, 2011

By H. Y. Sohn, S. PalDey

"Fine particles of nickel aluminides and Ni4Mo were synthesized by reducing mixtures of, respectively, A1Cl3 + NiC12 and NiC12 + MoC12 vapors with hydrogen. Though thermodynamically favorable, the coreduction of NiC12 and A1Cl3 by H2 to form Ni3Al did not readily happen experimentally. The addition of a small amount of aluminum vapor was needed to initiate the coreduction reaction. The product particles as observed by TEM were very fine but usually agglomerated. The electron diffraction pattern of particles identified NiAl and NiA13 along with Ni3Al and metallic Ni. The content of Ni3Al was maximized at 52 mol% at 1050°C under the partial pressures ofH2, A1Cl3, and NiC12 at 57, 1.4, and 0.5 kPa, respectively. When a mixture of NiC12 + MoC15 was reduced by hydrogen, Ni4Mo particles with some Ni or Mo particles were obtained, the maximum content of Ni4Mo obtained being 93 mol % . The particle size was in the range of 100 to 200 nm. An Ni4Mo coating of 700 nm thickness on an Ni substrate was also prepared.IntroductionThe search for new high-temperature structural materials has stimulated much research on intermetallic compounds. Nickel aluminides have low densities, relatively high melting points, and good high-temperature strength properties. They show an increase, rather than a decrease, in yield strength with increasing temperature (1). Ni4Mo is also of interest as a high-temperature structural material. The major shortcomings of these intermetallics are their inherent brittleness at room temperature when they are in polycrystalline form. For much the same reason, the conventional casting of intermetallics is difficult. Ingot metallurgy and powder metallurgy are two other processing techniques. The first technique is quite energy consuming. In powder metallurgy, the powders of metals and alloys are consolidated in near net shape and then subjected to secondary processing. It would, therefore, be advantageous if intermetallic compounds can be produced in fine powder form from inexpensive raw materials, using less energy."

Jan 1, 1998

By M. A. Neri

A lead-free solder alloy Sn-57.5Bi-0.5Ag has been developed by mechanical alloying and foundry processes, and has great potential as a lead-free solder system, to low temperature applications. The mechanical alloying powders show a microstructure different to the microstructure obtained by the foundry process for the same alloy. Its melting point of 142°C is slightly higher than that of eutectic tin- bismuth solder. Examination of the microstructure revealed that eutectic microstructure is refined by the mechanical alloying process Ag additions. The lamellar structure of tin-bismuth gradually disappeared with the process of mechanical alloying, while intermetallic compounds AgaSn phase was formed. The Cu-Sn intermetallic compound layer formed at solder-copper interface is the Cu6Sn5 phase. Keywords: Lead-free solder, Microstructure. Mechanical alloying

Jan 1, 2003

MODELLING FOR DESIGN AND CONTROL AT KALGOORLIE NICKEL SMELTER Modelling at KNS has been driven by a need to have better tools to answer questions about control, design and optimisation of the plant. This paper describes a number of modelling tools developed for use at KNS and how the development of modelling tools fits with a design and control strategy. In the area of control, a thermodynamic model has been developed to allow process parameters to be calculated. The model allows for the automatic selection of data from a laboratory data base, desired operating set points are input and the operating parameters are calculated. The model has the ability to adjust the burner efficiency and the furnace heat loss depending upon conditions. To assist with the testing of proposed furnace design changes, various mathematical models of the burner and shaft have been created using PHOENICS. These models are particularly well suited to combustion heat transfer and flow aspects of both the burners and shaft. Validation of these models have been based on novel sampling and measuring techniques in the shaft and also by using scale and cold models. Overall plant energy and cost structures can be analysed using a flowsheet simulation, developed to evaluate potential alterations to the plant flowsheet. This model system allows the global evaluation of process changes.

Jan 1, 1993

By Ximeng Zhu

The electrochemical behavior of mineral and coal pyrites in stirred and quiescent alkaline boratelsulfate solutions @H 7.9-10.5) have been investigated using cyclic voltammetry. Significant differences in the electrochemical response of these pyrites were observed. At the mineral pyrite surface, three anodic peaks at about -0.8 V, -0.1 V and +0.5 V (SCE) have been detected along with their corresponding reduction peaks. The first two peaks correspond to FeIFeOI) and FeOI)lFe(III) oxidation. The third peak is present for quiescent conditions but disappears as a distinct peak when the electrolyte is stirred. In the upper voltage region +0.30V (SCE), the current increases markedly during stirring and the reactions correspond to the oxidation of pyrite with the formation FeOII) oxides plus elemental sulfur. Also there is evidence that Fe oxy-ions form. Coal pyrites, under rapid sweep conditions display only the first two anodic peaks, the associated reduction peaks and an additional reduction peak corresponding to one or more of the high voltage oxidation products. After prolonged exposure to high potentials, coal pyrite displays reactions similar to those of mineral pyrite but at much higher current densities demonstrating the much higher reactivity of the coal pyrite. The reactivity sequence was Upper Freeport coal pyrite > Pittsburgh coal pyrite > mineral pyrite.

Jan 1, 1991

By Eric J. Grimsey

Nickel smelting and converting can be viewed as processes in which iron is either partitioned or transported between matte and slag. Metal recovery depends on the mass of iron transported to slag, the thermodynamic environment in which the transport is made, and the extent to which the slag, once formed, is left in contact with the matte. The importance of these effects is discussed with reference to a new equation which describes metal recovery in terms of a mass balance and a thermodynamically related parameter which is easily measured in practice.

Jan 1, 1993

By S. Gopalan, J. D. Milshtein, S. N. Basu

Production of syngas is proposed utilizing the W/W03 redox system and employing a solarpowered two-step thermochemical cycle. Three chemical reactions occur in two chambers. Assisted by a solar concentrator, a high temperature reaction reduces W03 powder to metallic tungsten in both chambers. Subsequently, the temperature in one of the chambers is lowered and H2(g) is produced via re-oxidation of the tungsten powder using steam. The temperature in the other chamber is simultaneously lowered to an intermediate temperature and CO(g) is produced via oxidation of the tungsten powder using C02(g)· The gas streams coming out of the two chambers result in the syngas production. A complete thermodynamic analysis of the system is described. The W/W03 redox cycle offers greater gravimetric fuel productivity compared to previously proposed systems, and the entire cycle can be operated below 1273K.

Jan 1, 2013

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 Gordon D. Jarvinen

Polymer Filtration (PF) Is an innovative, selecthle metal removal technology. Chelating, water-soluble polymers are used to selectively bind the desired metal ions and ultrafiltration is used to concentrate the polymer-metal complex producing a permeate with low levels of the targeted metal ion. When applied to the treatment of, Industrial metal-bearing aqueous process streams, the permeate water can often be reused within the process and the metal ions reclaimed. This technology is applicable to many types of industrial aqueous streams with widely varying chemistries. Application of PF to 'aqueous streams from nuclear materials processing and electroplating operations will be described.

Jan 1, 1999

Segregation roasting tests were carried out on Zaire cobalt oxide ores assaying about 2% Co and 3.5 to 6.5% Cu. The major parameters tested during the laboratory investigations were temperature, dosage and type of reducing agent, dosage and type of chloridizing agent, and particle size. Results showed that standard conditions suited to the segregation of copper ores, i.e. low temperature and low dosages of reducing and chloridizing agents, resulted in the segregation of copper only, while conditions suited to the segregation of lateritic nickel, i.e. higher temperature and increased dosages of reducing and chloridizing agents, led to a successful segregation of both copper and cobalt. Under the best conditions, 88% of the cobalt and 98% of the copper could be recovered in a concentrate assaying 32.5% Cu and 8.5% Co. Alternatives to process such a concentrate are briefly reviewed.

Jan 1, 1993

By Anja Pfennig, Axel Kranzmann, Phillip Zastrow

"Properties of pipe steels for CCS technology require resistance against the geothermal corrosive environment (heat, pressure, salinity of the aquifer, CO2-partial pressure). To predict the reliability of two different injection pipe steels with 13% chromium and 0.46% carbon (1.4034, X46Cr13) as well as 0.20% carbon (1.4021, X20Cr13) steel coupons were heat treated by comparable routines prior to long term corrosion experiment (60°C, 100 bar, artificial brine close to a CCS-site in the Northern German Basin, Germany). In general higher carbon content exhibits better corrosion resistance with respect to corrosion rate, amount of pits and maximum intrusion depth in the case of local corrosion. At 100 bar hardened steels with martensitic microstructure have the lowest corrosion rates with an average of 0.003 mm/a after 2000 h exposure time. At ambient pressure normalized steels show the lowest corrosion rates, indicating that the corrosion is driven by grain boundaries.IntroductionEngineering a geological on-shore saline aquifer CCS-site (CCS Carbon Capture and Storage [1-3]) corrosion of injection pipe steels may become an issue when emission gasses, e.g. from combustion processes of power plants, are compressed into deep geological layers [4-8]. Typically 42CrMo4 (1.7225, AISI 4140) is used for casing, and for injection pipe the steel X46Cr13 (1.4034, AISI 420 C) or X20Cr13 (1.4021, AISI 420 J) is used. Saline formations are the most favorable storage sites in Germany [9], because of their large potential storage volume and their common occurrence. Leakage of CO2 back into the atmosphere may be a problem in saline aquifer storage, especially around the water level within the borehole. Carbon dioxide corrosion may cause failure of pipelines and wells as known from the oil and gas industry [4,6,10,11, 12].From thermal energy production it is known, that the CO2-corrosion is sensitively dependent on alloy composition, contamination of alloy and media, environmental conditions like temperature, CO2 partial pressure, flow conditions and protective corrosion scales [6-8,13- 20]. Considering different environments, aquifer waters and pressures, the analyzed temperature regime between 40 °C to 60 °C is a critical temperature region well known for corrosion processes as shown by Pfennig et al. [21-23] and various other authors [10,24-28] (figure 1). Here a maximum around 4.7 mm/year was found for the pit intrusion depth of 13% Cr steel X46Cr13. Still this may be predicted by the rather conservative Norsok-Model used in the oil and gas industry to calculate surface corrosion rates of carbon steels [29]."

Jan 1, 2014

By Andrzej Warczok

Intensive smelting of copper concentrate in Teniente Converter (CT) leads to the production of high grade matte and highly oxidized slag. Smelting slag is processed in Teniente vascular slag cleaning furnace. The slag composition and forms of copper affect the slag cleaning process and final copper content. Converting of high grade matte in Pierce-Smith converter faces some difficulties in proper slagging of iron oxides. Overblowing in copper making stage allows for slag liquidation but leads to high content of copper oxide in converter slag. Converter slag recycling into CT results in the increase of the participation of oxidic copper. Separate treatment of converter slag and its impact on the forms of copper in CT slag has been analyzed. Thermodynamic properties of a system and kinetic limitations pointed out the negative effect of converter slag recycling on the forms of copper and copper recovery in slag cleaning stage. Experimental results of slag cleaning tests in a crucible scale as well as microscopic examination of laboratory and industrial slag samples supported the above analysis and permitted to formulate recommendations of separate processing of converter slag. Keywords: copper, losses, slag, recycling

Jan 1, 2001

By Hojat Naderi

In this research assisted leaching of chalcopyrite using sodium peroxodisulfate was studied. Electrochemical techniques such as Tafel analysis and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were used to investigate the surface reactions of a chalcopyrite electrode in the presence and absence of Na2S2O8. According to the results, addition of sodium peroxodisulfate increases the current exchange of the corrosion process and prevents the formation of a passive layer on the surface of the electrode. EIS tests show the trans-passive dissolution of the passive layer on the chalcopyrite electrode in presence of Na2S2O8. Equivalent electrochemical circuits were modeled for Na2S2O8-free and -containing solutions and the model parameters were compared to determine the effect of S2O8 2− on chalcopyrite dissolution. Copper dissolution from pure chalcopyrite mineral and chalcopyrite concentrate was carried out using 15 g/L sulfuric acid solution with and without Na2S2O8. Simultaneous presence of 10 g/L ferric ion and 40 g/L peroxodisulfate salt results in about 40 and 18% of Cu extraction from chalcopyrite concentrate and pure chalcopyrite mineral, after 96 h, respectively.

By Jin-tao Gao

In order to recover Ti resource from titanium bearing blast furnace slag, a new technology to separate perovskite phase from CaO-TiO2-SiO2-Al2O3-MgO system by supergravity is researched. In the condition of gravity coefficient of 750g, treatment temperature of 1305°C and time of 20min, the significant layers appear in samples which are obtained by means of centrifugal treatment. Along the direction of the supergravity, the volume fraction of perovskite phase increases gradually, and the equivalent diameters of perovskite phase crystals increases with the area approaching to the bottom of the sample. It is indicated that TiO2 is enriched in the bottom of sample as concentrate with a recovery ratio of 74.05% by supergravity treatment.

Jan 1, 2014

By M. Furuta, M. Hasimoto, Y. Komoda, K. Haiki

"Tamano Smelter & Refinery started its operation in 1972 with high current density electrolysis (350Nm2 of maximum) applying PRC technology. After the start up, four times of expansion have been done, the cathode production capacity has increased from- 84,000 t/y to 191,000 t/y. However, recent refining technology with permanent stainless steel cathode enabled to increase current density up to 300 Nm2 or more without PRC method. In order to increase current density more than 350 A/m2 , experimental work using commercial size cell has been carried out at several conditions, such as current density, PRC conditions, electrolyte composition and electrode condition. As a result, it was found that high quality (LME A grade) cathode can be produced at such a high current density as 405 A/m2•IntroductionWhen considering the production increase of electrolytic copper, what becomes important is the improvement of productivity per unit of production facility. Conventionally, production had been expanded by increasing the number of cells but a huge investment required for this had a influence to the business profitability. Because of this, increase of current density, which is one of the methods to improve unit productivity, 'was expected and this method at the same time has another advantage of shortening the retention time of copper and other precious metals in the cells. At present, the average current density at Tamano during full capacity production is around 350 A/m2 and this used to be the limit throughout the world (1)."

Jan 1, 2000

By Chris Doyle

From 1997-2000. PT INCO undertook the Fourth Line Expansion Project (FLEX) to increase annual production rates from 90-100 to 150 Mlbs Ni/year (68,000 MT Ni/yr). In 2003, PT INCO nickel production underwent a major sustainable step jump that finally exceeded the targeted rate. This paper presents the changes that led to this achievement. The focus of mining changed. Improving Ni grade was important but only if electric furnace feed met target chemistry so that on-specification slag could be produced. The intensity of diamond core drilling for exploration was dramatically upgraded, mine planning strategy was totally re- vamped and an ore chemistry quality assurance team was formed. In the processing plant, measurement systems were upgraded for better control. Teamwork between sections vastly improved. The final step jump in production occurred when the fifth hydro-electric power generator was added to the furnace grid to allow the power-starved furnaces to cruise in operation at 70+ MW. Keywords: Free cash flow, Ore Chemistry, Measure, Control, Improve

Jan 1, 2004