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By Peter J. Koros

The current wave of interest in this topic is the result of increased use of titaniferous ores or ilmenite in blast furnace burdens for the purpose of repairing hearth damage. The titanium compounds that promote deposition of ?patching? materials in blast furnaces are the cause of downstream problems in the steelmaking shops. Steelmakers historically have objected to significant amounts of titanium in hot metal (>0.10 % Ti) for several reasons: 1) accretions caused by the TiC.TiN needles that float out of the iron as it cools in transit and in transfers make the accompanying slag sticky and crusty, causing problems in desulfurization and increasing time and Fe yield loss at the subsequent raking, 2) defensive measures have been taken in treatment, such as use of argon for carrier gas, but without technical rationale for this approach, 3) difficulty in removal of the ladle slag by the raker, with subsequent sulfur addition to the vessel charge, and 4) transfer into the BOF and/or formation of a very corrosive TiO2 containing acid slag during the early part of the BOF blow which, in addition to causing lining damage, results in loss of sulfur removal capability by the vessel slag. Based on a conceptual analysis of the metal-slag-atmosphere interactions during transfer ladle desulfurization treatment, a mechanism is postulated for the apparent effectiveness of the use of argon in reducing the deleterious effect of titanium and an alternate technique, possibly more effective, is proposed. As probably the use of argon causes increased exposure to atmospheric oxidation of the titanium carbonitrides contained in the ladle slag, the same benefit can be obtained by use of either oxygen or an air blast to oxidize the noxious reaction compounds. Validity of the concept has been demonstrated in a pilot plant setting. These issues, and related effects on testing the hot metal, are examined in detail with reference to the literature and plant and laboratory experience.

Jan 1, 2006

By Mike Dry

While McCabe-Thiele plots are useful for designing single-component solvent extraction systems, not least because of their simplicity, they are less useful for multi-component solvent extraction. This paper presents a relatively simple method, compared to other approaches, for modelling solvent extraction as chemical equilibrium reactions between the various aqueous and organic species. The essence of this approach is how values for the equilibrium constants can be extracted from standard laboratory data. Synergistic solvent extraction of nickel is used to illustrate the method.

By D. J. Wang

Based on the thermodynamic arid kinectic aspects, the vaccum distillation processes for the separation and recovery of metals from wastes are analyzed. As to the separation criteria, The separation coefficient and equilibrium composition relation between vapor phase and liquid phase are the bases of recovery of metals by vacuum distillation, The vaporization rates and condensation mechanisms are also discussed. Some experimental results which deal with metals-containing wastes are described and the performances of a new kind of horizontal vacuum furnace are introduced, which demonstrate that , vacuum distillation may be a prospective technique for circulation and regeneration of some non-ferrous metals from industrial wastes.

Jan 1, 1996

By E. O. Stensholt

The Hybinette electrorefining process for production of cathode nickel was in use at Falconbridge Nikkelverk A/S, Norway, until 1975 when conversion to the new chlorine leach process was started. In 1978 the conversion to electrowinning had been completed, but further major improvements to the process have been made up to 1987. After a major expansion program in 1985 - 87 the refinery has a nickel capacity of 54 000 mt Ni/year. The main feed materials to the process are converter matte from the Falconbridge smelter in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, and from the BCL smelter in Selebi-Phikwe, Botswana. A typical composition of the mixed feed to the refinery is: 40 - 45% Ni, 25 - 30% Cu, 20 - 22% S, 2 - 3% Fe and 1.0 - 1.5% Co. The matte is chlorine-leached in the first process step, nickel being dissolved selectively in a train of leach-cementation tanks. Essentially all copper and sulphur that was present in matte appears in the leach residue as CuS. In 1986 an autoclave treatment stage was added to the process to improve nickel extraction from the leach residue. The resulting strong nickel chloride solution is purified by the process steps (1) precipitation of iron and arsenic, (2) solvent extraction of cobalt and other minor elements and (3) precipitation of lead and the remaining impurities. The nickel solution is then fed to the tankhouse, where various nickel products are produced by electrowinning. The chlorine gas that is produced during the electrolysis is returned directly to the chlorine leaching tanks to dissolve more matte. After stripping from the loaded organic phase and solution purification cobalt is also produced by electrowinning. The copper sulphide leach residue, which contains some nickel, is dead- roasted in fluidized-bed roasters. The sulphur is recovered and sold as sulphuric acid. The calcine is leached in spent copper electrolyte, from which cathode copper is produced by electrowinning. Precious metals and the remaining base metals are recovered from the copper leach residue. The Falconbridge chlorine process is very versatile. It can accept a wide range of impurities in the feed and still produce metals of exceptional purity.

Jan 1, 1988

By F. J. Hogan

In early 1982 Atlantic Cement Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Newmont Mining Corp. will come on line with a new water granulating grinding facility at Sparrows Point, Maryland to produce 800, 000 tons a year of separately ground granulated blast-furnace slag. The process and product will be unique to the United States. This paper will review some initial investigations undertaken to evaluate the cementitious properties of granulated slag. The effect of slag fineness on strength development is discussed and data is presented showing a relationship between glass content and hydraulicity and grindability of slag.

Jan 1, 1982

By K. Olsen

As aluminum alloy usage in automobiles grows, there are increasing demands on recycling processes and facilities to deal with mixed alloy automotive aluminum scrap. These processes and facilities strive to produce near virgin aluminum stock, which can be relatively costly and difficult. One alternative is to use physical processing methods to upgrade the scrap properties instead of chemically refining the scrap. The Impulse Atomization Process (LAP, patent pending) is a new process for making metallic and ceramic powders. It can produce fine homogeneous microstructures in scrap aluminum alloys due to high undercooling and rapid solidification. The particles have a very narrow size distribution and are in a convenient form for consolidation. This paper compares and contrasts the microstructural features of Impulse Atomized. and quenched Impulse Atomized powders,' for both AL6061 and a scrap aluminum alloy composition.

Jan 1, 1995

By Wolfgang Steffes-Tun

Pyrite ore concentrate from the Meggen mine (FRG) , which contains about 0 300 400 ppm thallium, is roasted in a fluid bed furnace at 1000 -1100 C to form sulfur dioxide and ash consisting mainly of hematite. Subsequently, the sulfur dioxide is separated from the ash or dust during several steps while cooling to about 250oC. The pyrite ash fractions show decreasing grain size down to 5 pm, a pH-decrease down to 2,4 and a marked enrichment of arsenic and thallium by a factor of 12. In the final fraction, the hot electroprecipitator dust of the dump (EGR), minute crystals of thallium-containing jarosite can be detected by analytical transmission electorn microscopy (TEM). Under oxidizing, acid conditions, jarosite may be a possible "reservoir mineral" for immobilizing thallium.

Jan 1, 1989

By C. Frias, M. Garcia, G. Diaz

Advances in hydrometallurgy promoted by Tecnicas Reunidas are providing increasingly simple and clean means for controlling the entire lead recycling chain. Used in parallel with pyrometallurgy, these processes allow furnace temperatures to be reduced and fumes and atmospheric pollution to be minimised. Furnace slags are digested, and residues (mainly gypsum) are non-toxic and convertible into marketable products. In addition, the global economy of the process is substantially improved by reducing the operating cost, increasing the lead recovery above 99% and obtaining a 99.99% pure lead product. These new PLACID and PLINT processes may provide the cleanest and healthiest practicable means for recycling lead from batteries.

Jan 1, 2000

By C. G. Bastos Andrade, V. F. Justo, F. R. Valenzuela-Diaz, M. G. S. Valenzuela, C. M. Matos, C. Volzone

For industrial use, the smectite clays are usually treated with inorganic acid of high concentration at temperatures under boiling point, which provide the bentonite´s bleaching power. In the present paper, a sample of brown smectite from Paraiba, Brazil, was submitted to treatment under moderate conditions (90°C, reaction times of 1, 6, 12, 18 and 24hours in close reactor, concentration of the aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid 1.5M, clay/acid solution ratio of 1g/10mL), aiming to reduce impurities, responsible for the color of the clay, without causing significant changes in their structure. The samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray detector (EDS), stereomicroscopy, Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC), Thermal Analysis (TG/DTA), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). It was observed a bleaching in samples with time of 12h to 18h. With the DRX was possible to monitor the peak intensity of the clay structure and the sample with 12 hours of treatment was not significantly altered its crystalline structure, maintaining the peak clay at d(001). The most pronounced changes in the bleaching occurred within the first 12 hours of acid treatment. Thus, clay can be used in products with high added value.

Jan 1, 2015

By M. Fafard, R. Ahmed, O. Dion-Martin

"The optimization of aluminum sheet and tube forming needs the use of large strain finite elements software. The precision of the predicted results from those simulations depends mainly on the quality of constitutive law of the material used. In order to improve quality of these simulations, Barlat has suggested a new yield function named YLD2000-2d. This criterion describes the anisotropic behavior of the rolled aluminum plates. This work consists of characterizing the AA5754 alloy and estimating the material parameters needed for the YLD2000-2d criterion in LS-DYNA. In order to get these parameters, various mechanical testing were performed such as bulge and tensile tests. Moreover, the bulge test was also used to obtain an estimation of work hardening curve in large strain condition, up to 50%. The objective of this paper is to share the experimental results of the characterization of AA5754 aluminum alloy.IntroductionResearchers from National Research Council Canada's Aluminium Technology Center (NRCATC) and Aluminium Research Centre - REGAL, are working on aluminium tube hydroforming processes of AA-5754-0 alloy, used in automotive industries. Hydroforming process presents several difficulties such as wall thinning and section changes. In order to control them, some parameters can be set during the process like pressure rate and end feed level [1]. Given the complexity of the parts and the variability of the control parameters, the use of finite element method (FEA), like LS-DYNA, based on large strain theory is thus necessary. The accuracy of predicted results depends mainly on the quality of the constitutive law used to model the behavior of material. FEA results seem to be valid with the von Mises yield criterion used in some cases. But, given the anisotropic properties of the AA-5754 alloy, a more appropriate criterion could be used. The *MAT_ BARLAT YLD2000 shell material criterion, developed by Barlat [2], who's taking into account the anisotropic behaviour, was chosen due to its large flexibility and its good adaptation to particular elastoplastic behavior of aluminum. However, the use of this criterion needs to determine some material parameters by experimental way."

Jan 1, 2013

By Klaus Bauckhage

Phase-Doppler-anemometry (PDA)-measurements have to be taken from representative measuring positions from inside the spray cone, helping - with the support of simulated data of improved process models - to describe the multiphase flow situations within the spray cone - and accordingly to that - the heat transfer conditions for the rapid cooling and (partly) solidifying melt droplets before their impact onto the substratddeposit. Simulations and PDA-measurements thus give the base to confirm the hypothesis of the existence of a semisolid mixed-layer and it's influence on the resulting material structure during compaction. The dispersed particles in the spray cone exhibit a cooling and solidification process within a split of a second, which leads - as far as the particles solidify - to a dendritic structure with very short dendritic arm spacings. This causes within the particles extremely short distances for the following equalizing diffision processes taking place on a high temperature level (between liquidus and solidus) in the semisolid mixed-layer of the deposit and explaining the short residence times within this zone of only seconds up to a few minutes. This and the fact that the globular structure of the mushy zone (in the semisolid mixed-layer) leads to an unidirectional crystallization process over very short distances also explains the chemical and morphological ,homogeneity of the sprayed material. The dynamics of these process steps, the very special buffer function of the mixing layer during parameter variations as well as the controlled cooling process of the preform in order to avoid hot cracks influence the quality of the material. Due to the necessity of measuring and controlling the particle bound mass-, momentum- and enthalpy- fluxes to the deposit the PDA-technique has been adapted and modified in order to receive in-line and (in the future) also on-line data from the dynamics of the multiphase flow conditions within the spray chamber.

Jan 1, 1999

By N. El-Kaddah, J. W. McKelliget

"A mathematical model for the analysis and design of hybrid plasma reactors for advanced materials synthesis is presented. The model is based upon a solution of the electromagnetic vector potential equation and is capable of predicting the two-dimensional velocity, temperature, and electromagnetic fields as well as the reaction kinetics inside the reactor for any axi-symmetric coil configuration. The model is used as a computer aided design tool for the design of hybrid plasma reactors consisting of a conventional DC torch augmented by an RF induction coil and it is demonstrated that the hybrid system possesses superior characteristics for materials synthesis over conventional DC or RF systems. The coupling between the RF and DC components is found to affect both the temperature field and the flow field and to have a significant effect on the reaction kinetics and on materials recovery. The model is used to study the thermal decomposition of silicon tetrachloride as a function of reactor design and operating parameters and it is demonstrated that through a CAD approach it is possible to significantly improve the operation of materials synthesis systems.IntroductionIn recent years there has been growing interest in the use of the inductively coupled plasma for chemical synthesis as a way of meeting the increasing demand for high quality, high performance materials for use in critical applications/l/. Although the basic feasibility of this approach has been demonstrated in the laboratory/2,3/ there still exists a number of operational problems that adversely affect system performance for some applications. In particular, the recirculation and back flow effects that arise from the electromagnetic forces in the plasma can result in the repulsion of the reactants from the hot plasma core and their subsequent deposition on the walls of the reactor. Another operational problem arises from the fact that the energy dissipated in the plasma has to compensate for the heat losses to the environment by conduction, convection, and radiation in order to maintain the ionization of the plasma and, hence, the stability of the plasma may be affected by the presence of the reactants and their products."

Jan 1, 1988

By Norbert L. Piret

From the copper smelter operation a various outputs are to exert negative impacts on the environment. Particularly, emissions like SO2 and dusts, solid wastes like contaminated gypsum and arsenic sludge, effluents and heated cooling water are generated. Most countries have sitipulated an environmental legislation to provide the framework for an efficient environmental management. As part of the planning activities for x major greenfield copper smelter, the Following elaborations are required and were drawn up. -The Environmental Impact Assessment which is the first step of environmental management and mandatory for every new project. - The Environmental Monitoring Plan, which describes the monitoring procedures for the main impacts identified and assessed. -The Environmental Management Plan, which deals with the minimization of environmental impacts, and the methods of its implementation.

Jan 1, 1996

By J. C. Agarwal

Do large-scale projects in mining and smelting start up and achieve expected capacity on schedule? In most cases not. Regardless of worldwide location, company know-how, or financial backing, unforeseen delays occur. A comprehensive CRA study for the World Bank shows that delays are the rule, not the exception, in most mining and smelting projects. When delays are not factored into analysis and planning, financial projections are, literally, not to be believed. Returns on investment will seldom achieve their targeted level because of startup delays. This paper reviews the results of our analysis of startup of new mines, mills, and smelters; provides a detailed discussion of why delays occur in the smelters and refineries; presents the cash flow implications of startup delays; and discusses preventive measures that should be taken to avoid financial shortfalls,

Jan 1, 1983

By C. A. Pickles

At the present time, pyrometallurgical processes are employed for the recovery of lead from battery scrap. These processes have serious pollution problems, primarily due to the emfssion of sulphur dioxide and airborne lead in the form of dust and fume. In addition it is necessary to dispose of solid wastes and liquid effluents which contain lead and in some cases sodium sulfide-containing compounds. In this work an improved process was investigated for the recovery of lead from battery residue. This involved pelletization of the residue with sodium carbonate and moisture. Then, the pellets were melted without carbon and the .sodium sulphate salt was removed. Subsequently, the molten lead oxide was reduced with carbon. This process minimizes the sulphur dioxide emissions and leads to very low sulfide contents of the sodium sulfate salt

Jan 1, 1992

By Robert F. Jenkins

This document addresses the use of practical and basic engineering principles to develop a computer model for the analysis of the various issues which affect heat transfer in aluminum sidewell furnaces. These issues include furnace charge conditions, furnace operating conditions, furnace general arrangement, furnace combustion conditions, and furnace ambient heat loss. The engineering principles applied to this model were first put to test over 20 years ago. A prototype computer model developed 12 years ago has been in continuous use by Thorpe Technologies to determine the performance of sidewell furnaces for the aluminum industry. A new computer model has enhanced capabilities for more detailed performance analysis including regenerative and oxygen enriched combustion.

Jan 1, 2000

By Bing Hu, Zhu-Cheng Huang, Guang-Bin Xia, Hu Peng, Hua Wang

"The temperature rising characteristics and reaction of the reduction of iron oxide pellets with anthracite fines were studied using a MW-L0316V microwave oven and Leica-DM-RXP polarizing microscope. The results show that iron oxide pellets and anthracite fines have good microwave absorbing properties, and high temperature and reducing atmosphere in a relatively short time for reduction of iron oxide pellets can be achieved. The reduction reaction, which follows the unreacted core model, is rapid and the metallization increases from 13.41% to 56.57% as the reduction end point temperature increases from 850oC to 950oC. The iron is formed, fine grain crystals of iron are transferred and the contraction of metal phase occurs firstly at the surface of pellets, which hinders the reduction reaction at the center of pellets. The rate of reduction reaction increases slowly as the reduction end point temperature increases from 950oC to 1050oC.IntroductionIron ore direct reduction can be divided into gas-based reduction and coal-based reduction. Owing to the effect of the resource and the related economic benefits [1, 2, 3, and 4], the development of gas-based direct reduction technology is restricted, but the development of coal-based direct reduction supported by the relevant industrial policy has very good prospects for application.As a source of clean energy, in China microwaves have been applied in many fields [5, 6, and 7]. Chen Jin studied the reduction of carbon pellets under microwaves, and has made some progress on reduction kinetics and reaction mechanisms. Other countries also have related research in this field [8 - 15], for example, Kotaro Ishizaki and Kazuhiro Nagata have done research on the reduction reaction of carbon magnetite heated by microwaves. The research shows that Fe3O4 is deoxidized to FeO at about 800oC, and FeO is deoxidized to Fe at 1000oC-1025oC. Due to the very good heat absorbing properties of iron oxide pellets and anthracite fines, the selective and rapid heating of microwaves can rapidly raise the temperature of pellets and anthracite, and the iron oxide pellets can be rapidly reduced. In order to provide enough theoretical basis for direct reduction by microwave heating, this paper studies the temperature rising characteristics, behavior of the reduction reaction and the changes of the iron oxide pellets and anthracite in the microwave field."

Jan 1, 2011

By Christopher M. Moore

DK Recycling und Rohelsen GmbH converts 380 000 annual tonnes of iron containing waste materials Into pig Iron. Zinc Is the main reason that these materials are classified as waste. The materials are processed In the conventional way by making sinter which is then smelted in a blast furnace to foundry grade pig iron. The trick lies not in the unit operations which are quite standard but rather In the modifications made to the plant and operating procedures to cope with the much higher levels of tramp elements.

Jan 1, 1995

By Henry Hu, Alfred Yu

"A numerical model has been developed to simulate heat and mass transfer phenomena occurring during a novel magnesium reduction process-the vertical retort technology. The model was based on the control - volume finite difference approach. Simulations were run to determine the effect of various processing parameters on magnesium reduction cycle time. The model predicted temperature distributions, heating curves, recovery ratio of magnesium, and total process times. The predictions were used to optimize the magnesium reduction process including dimensions of the retort, geometries of the reactant compounds, and productivities. The results indicate that the implementation of the optimized processing parameters significantly decreases the reduction time, and consequently increases the production rate as well as lowers the energy consumption.IntroductionMagnesium consumption has been growing considerably in the past decade [1]. Of the total magnesium production, 30% is produced by the thermal reduction (Pidgeon) process, and it is anticipated to be still the main technology for producing magnesium in future [2]. One of the advantages of the Pidgeon process is that it is capable of producing high purity magnesium demanded by both the automotive and aerospace industries. However, the inefficiency of heat and mass transfer taking place in the horizontal Pidgeon reduction process results in low productivity, high energy consumption, labor-intensive operation, large floor space and high capital investment. This limits the production scale of a horizontal Pidgeon reduction process [3].Vertical reduction processTo overcome the shortcomings of the horizontal magnesium reduction process, a novel vertical magnesium reduction process [3] for large-scale production has been developed, in which heat and mass transfer in the retort is enhanced. The new process shortens reduction time, reduces energy consumption and increases productivity. The vertical reduction system is comprised of a vertically-placed retort, a heating furnace and a vacuum system. A section of the vertical retort is illustrated in Figure 1. Since the retort is set vertically, instead of horizontally, the entire procedure of loading the reactants material in the new process is different from the one for the horizontal reduction process."

Jan 1, 2001

By Riyad N. Ahmad-Bita, Shadia J. Ikhmayies

"SnO2:F/CdS:In structures were prepared by the spray pyrolysis technique on glass substrates at a substrate temperature Ts = 450°C. NH4F and HF were both tried as the sources of fluorine in the precursor solution of SnO2:F. A comparison between the properties of structures obtained by using the two doping compounds was performed. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmittance measurements were used to characterize the films. The structures prepared by using HF as a fluorine source were found to have more ordered crystal growth, larger grain size and sharper absorption edge. From the inspection of the first derivative of the absorbance it is expected that more interdiffusion on the SnO2:F/CdS:In interface takes place in the structures made by using HF. These results confirm that these films are better as forecontacts for CdS/CdTe solar cells.IntroductionThin film CdS/CdTe solar cells built in the superstrate geometry rely on transparent conducting oxides (TCOs) to make the front contact The investigation of combined CdS-TCO films has recently been developed owing to the great interest of better understanding the effect of these bilayers on the absorbers [1]. Usually SnO2 is utilized as a front contact for these solar cells. Optimizing the properties of the SnO2/CdS structures is an important step on the way to get high performance CdS/CdTe solar cells.There are different methods to prepare SnOz thin films, such as reactive sputtering [2], evaporation [3], chemical vapour deposition [3, 4], dip coating [5] and spray pyrolysis [6-9]. At the same time CdS thin films can be prepared by different techniques such as chemical bath deposition [10], thermal evaporation [11], screen printing [12] and spray pyrolysis [7, 13]. However, the spray pyrolysis technique is a very low cost and simple technique that enables intentional doping and getting large area and uniform thin films [14]. For these reasons it is choused to prepare SnOz and CdS thin films in this work. To improve the properties of these compound semiconductors, SnOz was doped with fluorine and CdS was doped with indium where such doping is well known for these compounds."

Jan 1, 2012