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By Yasumasa Hattori

An extensive study including fluid dynamic calculations, cold model tests, pilot plant tests as well as measurements in a commercial flash furnace was carried out in order to develop a new Sumitomo flash smelting concentrate burner. The pressure measurements in the commercial burner indicated that the premixing of the concentrate and reaction air in a burner was insufficient. Pilot plant tests showed that enhancement of the premixing of the concentrate and reaction air is very effective for improving the burner performance. Using the additional pressure drop of the reaction air as an indicator of the premixing, a new type Sumitomo premixed concentrate burner was developed.

Jan 1, 2003

By Hideharu Fukunaga, Jin Pan

"The recognition of Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs) as a means of providing high specific strength, high specific stiffness, excellent wear resistance, low thermal expansion and improved high temperature properties has led to a number of new processing, not previously used for plastic and ceramic matrix composites. As a primary fabricating process, the liquid methods are the major ones, which are reviewed briefly from the view of processing terminology. One of them, squeeze casting process is the most traditional and well-developed, because it is rapid, versatile and near-net shape production of materials. Two of new squeeze casting processes are presented to offer the hardness· controlled MMC and the· functionally graded MMCs as well as a newly developed whisker preform.I .IntroductionA large number of liquid processes and techniques including semi-solid liquid process are proposed. The most primitive process is ''pressure infiltration casting” of liquid metal into the fiber preform. It is called as follows depending on pressure and its source squeeze casting (1-4) by hydraulic ram, gas pressure infiltration casting (5, 6), vacuum infiltration, centrifugal casting (7), Lorentz-force-driven infiltration (8). The pressurizing on the liquid metal requests a large and stiff equipment, so pressureless infiltration technique has been developed using K2ZrF6 flux (9,10) while the mechanical properties are not high enough, and using H2 gas with Mg alloying element called pressureless infiltration casting (11-13), spontaneous infiltration process (14) and PRIMEX (15). In those processes, no severe reaction occurred between the reinforcement and matrix molten metal. In early l 990's, the reactive processing with pressure or without pressure, in which one material is totally transformed into another of the required shape, eq. assisted oxidation, has been developed, called reaction squeeze casting (16,17), DIMOX (18) reactive infiltration casting (19,20), and in-situ process (21,22). Die casting of SiCp/Al alloy (23,24) and thixocasting of SiCp/Mg alloy (25) are also applied to produce the machine component of MMCs."

Jan 1, 2000

By D. M. Hausen

A computer program has been developed by Newmont Exploration to convert mineralogic data by XRD into rock type and ore type classifications. This method has proven useful in identifying lithology from cuttings samples, where percussion drilling was an alternative to expensive core drilling. Computer printouts of rock type and ore type identifications can be generated simultaneously with mineralogic analyses, resulting in a considerable time savings in manual calculation. XRD-computer logging was first applied to the Carlin mine in north central Nevada, and later to the Maggie Creek and Gold Quarry gold deposits, southeast of the Carlin mine. Impure Paleozoic limestones of the "lower plate" Roberts Mountain Formation and the "upper plate" transitional facies have been decarbonatized to altered siltstones and shaley units along vertical faults and permeable stratiform horizons. Advanced stages of decarbonatization were accompanied by silicification. Quantitative XRD data are initially sorted into principal rock type units (limestones, siltstones, dolostones, shales) based on major mineralogic components (calcite, quartz, dolomite, clays). On the basis of relative amounts of less major constituents, descriptive subclassifications (dolomitic limestones, dolomitic siltstones, argillaceous cherts) are made. XRD lithologic data provide assistance in correlating lithologic units, and delineating favorable replacement horizons associated with gold mineralization.

Jan 1, 1982

By C. Alexandru Sonoc

Donnan Dialysis uses ion exchange membranes to extract and separate cations. The driving force is provided by differences in chemical potential, rather than by electric fields or pressure. A Donnan Dialysis based process to recover lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, and organic acid lixiviant from recycled lithium ion battery cathodes is under development. In this paper we present a model of Donnan Dialysis and results of simulations of the aforementioned process. The simulations show that 170 m2 of membranes can process 1000 L of leachate ([Li+] = 0.285 M, [Co2+] = [Ni2+] = [Mn2+] = 0.095 M, pH 2) in two days and recover 94.1% of the lithium (as lithium carbonate), 99.4% of the transition metals (as mixed sulphates ready for solvent extraction), and all of the organic acid using 423 mol of H2SO4 and 268 mol of KHCO3.

By Nobumasa Kemori

Six kinds of copper '90ncentrates. were treated individually in a ,pilot scale. Outokumpu flsah smelting furnace ~n order to study their ?flash smelting behavior with respect to oxygen efficiency and dust generation. The copper concentrates tested were selected from the more than twenty sources which are treated at the Sumitomo Toyo copper smelter, so as to provide a wide range of chemical composition in terms .of Cu, S,Fe, Pb + Zn + As, and Si~ content. Oxygen efficiency 'and dust generation rates obtained in 'the experiments ranged from 80% ,to 108% and 11% to 20%, respectively. Relationships between these results and experhnental conditions such as chemical and mineral composition of the copper concentrates, flux ratio, fuel consumption and so on are also discussed quantitatively in this paper.

Jan 1, 1998

By J. S. Kirkaldy

A theoretical procedure is demonstrated for calculating two-dimensional binary cellular single-valued interfaces and extended to triple-valued (remelt) shapes. The numerical calculations for the single-valued local equilibrium problem which yield unique shapes as functions of the supersaturation parameter a and the partition coefficient k are reviewed. The cell amplitude L and wavelength A scale identically as the inverse velocity to the 112 power and the aspect ratio r is a constant equal to 312, independently of a and k for a < 0.5.. For 0.5 < a < m, L, A and r decrease asymptotically to zero indicating the finite amplitude nature of the instability at a = 1 and the existence of sub-marginal states which converge to a flat interface at a- m (Glv- m). Scaling comparisons between equilibrium single-valued and triple-valued and deep-rooted non- equilibrium cells are made.

Jan 1, 1992

By David J. Howard, Christine Broadbridge, David C. Paine

"High pressure vapor/solid reactions offer an opportunity for novel synthesis and processing of thin film materials and structures for electronic, optical, and magnetic applications. In this paper we review the use of two high pressure techniques that operate from 25 to 1000 atm (2.5 to 100 MPa) to fabricate thin film oxide structures from Si1-xGex deposited on Si wafers. High pressure synthesis enables temperature-independent control of reaction rates in the oxidation of this multicomponent semiconductor system and hence offers the opportunity to form thennodynamically metastable Si1-xGex<h from the alloy. The thermodynamics of the Si-Ge-0 system are reviewed and a method is described that utilizes selective chemical reduction (via H2 gas) of Si1-xGcx<h to form Ge precipitates in an SiO2 matrix. IntroductionAlloys of Si1-xGex grown epitaxially on Si substrates by chemical vapor deposition (CYD) and molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) have been used to create high performance microelectronic devices1. These devices show improved performance over conventional Si technology because they exploit the Si/Si 1-xGex band-gap discontinuity and take advantage of higher hole mobilities in the Ge containing alloys. While a range of devices based on heteroepitaxial systems have been demonstrated, the Si1_xGex alloys are of particular interest because they are most closely compatable with standard Si device processing. One disadvantage of Si-based materials systems is that they are not typically useful emitters of light. This is important since the use of light (rather than electrons) for transmitting and processing signals into, out of, and within Si-based microelectronics would represent a major technological advance in microelectronics-based communication and computer technologies. Nevertheless, through the use of innovative processing techniques it may be possible to use the Si1_xGex/Si heteroepitaxial system in integrated microelectronic/light-wave technologies."

Jan 1, 1994

By Dennis J. Kemp

Laterite projects are found in the tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. As a result severe meteorological situations accompany such projects, often in regions of high seismic activity and political uncertainty. Frequently, socio-economic development supported by political interest is a major driver for development, while environmental protection imposes numerous stresses on the project. This paper will review and examine the many social, environmental, technical and financial issues that a mining and extraction process is subject to during development. The options that must be evaluated will be discussed in the context of sustainable development. Issues of project standards and cultural impact through to long-term issues such as greenhouse gasses and climate change will be assessed in redirecting project environmental norms. Although a rationale for sustainable project can be developed many long- term uncertainties around issues remain. Keywords: sustainable development, communities, social issues, standards, energy, waste management, consultation, agreements

Jan 1, 2004

By Rodney J. Ishak

The reduction of Mn3O4 to MnO has been investigated in a thermobalance apparatus, The charge was composed of manganese ore (decomposed by heating/calcination or pre-reduction to mainly Mn3O4) and coke. The material was charged to a crucible, which was suspended in the balance. CO-gas was distributed through a grid in the bottom of the crucible. Two sizes of ores were used; 2.4-4.8 mm and 6,7-9.5 mm. Coke particles were in the size range 4.8-6.7 mm. Experiments were conducted in the 900-1100°C temperature range. The composition of the product gas was monitored continuously. External mass transport between bulk gas and particle surface does not seem to limit the rate of reduction. Assuming that both diffusion through product layer and chemical reaction at the interface between MnO and Mn)04 are rate controlling, the data was tried both in a shrinking core model and in a grain model using regression. The grain model gives the best physical description of the process, because the reactant is in fact a porous medium. With this model the effective diffusivity was calculated to be in the 1.5-6.10.5 m2/s range. The pore size was mainly between 0.1 and 10 um,

Jan 1, 2003

By Eric J. Beckman

Recovery of metals from dilute solution, whether the matrix is solid, or liquid, remains a considerable technical and financial challenge. Methods currently exist whereby metals can be extracted from either type of matrix, yet these methods consume significant quantities of reagents and can also generate multiple waste ,streams in the process. Technology developed in our lab allows efficient application of environmentally-benign CO2 to a number of separation problems involving metals. For example, we have employed biphasic mixtures of C02 and water as a green acid leach medium. Metals have been extracted from a steelmaking process residue and then recovered as metal carbonates through depressurization. In this process, metals are extracted and recovered without the use of reagents other than CO2 and water, and CO2 is sequestered as a solid. In addition, through synthesis of Cal-miscible phase transfer agents, we have shown that CO2 can replace the organic solvent currently used in refining of precious metals, The sensitivity to pressure of phase behavior in a CO2-mixture may allow significant streamlining of the process as well. Finally, CO2 soluble chelating agents have been used to extract toxic metals from acidic effluent such as that found in plating facilities.

Jan 1, 1999

By Munyaradzi Kwatara, Ron Schonewille, Edgar Peek, Juzer Tayabally

"The potential recovery of nickel from a South-American saprolitic laterite ore using the segregation roasting technique was investigated. The ore was heated to temperatures that ranged between 900 and 1 000°C in a rotary kiln. In all the tests, the laterite ore was first mixed with a predetermined amount of calcium chloride and either coal or coke. By varying the temperature, calcium chloride and reductant in the different tests, a preliminary set of optimal conditions was established for the specific laterite ore that was tested. A combination of chemical analysis and electron-probe-micro-analysis (EPMA) were used to determine and evaluate the effectiveness of segregation roasting on the recovery of nickel. The present paper describes the test procedure and the results that were obtained.IntroductionIt is known that laterite ore resources account for an estimated 72% of the world's nickel resources, with sulfide sources accounting for the remaining 28%. Yet sulfide resources account for 58% of the world's primary nickel production while laterite resources account for the remaining 42% [I]. There are numerous reasons for this discrepancy, but the most important one is the mineralogical and compositional complexity that is associated with laterite ore deposits. For example, this complexity currently offers only limited opportunities for upgrading, thereby creating capital intensive whole ore processing facilities. It then follows logically that the identification and application of a low-cost processing option for the treatment of laterites could potentially open up an opportunity for exploiting these vast untapped laterite resources.To this end, a preliminary screening investigation was initiated by Xstrata Process Support to evaluate the potential application of the so-called (nickel) segregation process as a unit operation that could potentially be integrated into a laterite processing flow sheet. Laboratory bench tests were performed on this segregation process and this paper details some of the findings from this preliminary investigation."

Jan 1, 2011

By Mike Johnson, Niels Verbaan, David Dreisinger

The Search Minerals Foxtrot project in Labrador is a surface deposit enriched in the highly sought after heavy rare earth elements. Early metallurgical work investigated beneficiation of the rare earth content of the Foxtrot resource using flotation, gravity separation and magnetic separation. The concentrate was then processed by acid baking and water leaching to produce a REE leachate for purification and recovery. The Search Minerals Direct Extraction Process was developed through bypassing the beneficiation process and directly acid treating a coarse crushed ore material prior to water leaching. The result is a simple, low risk technical process for direct recovery. Concurrently, the treatment of the water leach solution was modified to produce a high grade (98.9% total rare earth oxide) product for refining.

Jan 1, 2016

By Michael A. Eamon

Magma Copper Company has operated its San Manuel SX-EW Plant facilities since 1986. The original plant facilities have a design capacity of 25,000 tons per year of electrowon copper cathode produced by processing pregnant leach solutions from an open pit/heap leach operation. In 1988, the plant was expanded to 50,000 tons per year to incorporate processing leach solutions from an insitu leaching operation. This paper presents a general overview of plant practices with particular emphasis on process innovations developed and implemented by Magma during construction and operation.

Jan 1, 1991

By Michele L. Bustamante, Gabrielle Gaustad

In recent years, t h e future supply of tellurium has been called into question due to the anticipated rapidly increasing demand from thin film cadmium telluride photovoltaics. Since tellurium is produced as a byproduct of other extractive processes – principally, the electrolytic refining of primary copper sulfide ore – it is important to explore the dynamics of the parent metal extraction and processing – in this case copper – when attempting to answer this question. This research explores the changing landscape of global copper production; introducing system diagramming and the concept of byproduct intensity (BPI) to illustrate concerning downward trends in tellurium supply potential. Upon closer inspection, it is concluding that, while a likely contributor to these downward trends, the increased use of non- traditional copper production techniques alone are not responsible; other factors include market substitution and incomplete data reporting. Additionally, a review of literature on tellurium recovery processing reveals a promising outlook for future supplies; highlighting potential for improvements in yield, which allow producers to make better use of what is available, even in the face of suppressed BPI.

Jan 1, 2014

By Ramana G. Reddy, Yuxiang Peng

The long-term corrosion behavior of Haynes 230 (H230) alloy in MgCl2–KCl eutectic salt was evaluated at 1273 K for 500 h in Ni crucible in argon gas. The results showed H230 alloy has good corrosion resistance. In addition, corrosion was noted to occur by depletion of Cr, which was deposited on the Ni crucible. Based on the calculation of Gibbs energy of Ni-Cr alloy and exchange current density of Cr in MgCl2–KCl, the Tafel model was constructed to investigate the corrosion potential and rate. The galvanic corrosion can be explained as the predicted results were in agreement with the experimental data.

Mar 1, 2017

By Zhang Duomo

A novel homogenous precipitation method, including microwave heating, solution conductivity controlling and freeze drying, was developed for the preparation of US nanoparticles. The effects of the precipitation conditions on the structure and morphology of CdS particles were discussed individually. It was found that under the experimental conditions the particle sizes were controllable in the range of 14nm to 100nm. Blend-type CdS was obtained from nitrate or sulphate solution and the more stable wurtzite-type US was obtained from chloride solution, which was ascribed to the coordination of C1 and Cd2+ altering the supersaturation of the solution as well as the different growth units and their connecting patterns, In the precipitation process the surface of US nanoparticles were surface modified with CH3CHSCOOH. The results demonstrate that the bifunctional thiols of thioglycolic acid modified the surface through Cd-S coordination bonding and the induced counter ion AOT-SO3 as the balance charge further increased the stability and dispersity of US nanoparticles. This surface-modified US nanoparticles had been used to prepare nonlinear optics and self-assemble catalysts.

Jan 1, 2003

By Harrison Hodge

In the Bayer process for alumina production, between 2–35% Al2O3 is lost with bauxite residue due primarily to incomplete dissolution of aluminiumbearing minerals during caustic leaching or the precipitation of sodium alumino-silicate solids. The recovery of sodium and aluminium from the residue, and particularly from the contained sodium alumino-silicates, is becoming an increasingly critical issue from both an environmental and economic standpoint. Lime-soda residue sintering followed by selective leaching has been proposed as a method to recover sodium and alumina. The factors influencing the sintering mechanisms and kinetics, and the subsequent leaching have not been well described to date. In this study, the physical and chemical changes taking place during isothermal sintering of bauxite residue in air, particularly at short reaction times are investigated using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The impacts of these changes on the recovery of valuable materials are reported.

By William Petruk

The development of automatic image analysers brought the application of image analysis into process mineralogy because the analysers can measure parameters more easily, quickly and accurately than by manual grain counting techniques, and can also collect data unobtainable by manual grain counting. Data from ore specimens and mill products are used to predict and to define the behaviour of minerals during processing. The analyses are generally performed on the basis of either surface areas or linear intercepts of grains in polished or thin sections, and the data are computer processed to give mineral quantities, liberations, size distributions, and characteristics of middling particles. For analysis, the minerals must be detectable and discriminatable from each other. An image editor is usually used when minerals are not easily discriminated. In addition BSE-8EM photographs have been used where the silicate minerals could not be discriminated from the mounting media. Methods of analysis, typical results, and their applications are discussed.

Jan 1, 1982

By R. T. Seaman

Pressure oxidative treatment of whole ores and/or mineral concentrates is used to leach or liberate metals of value for downstream recovery. Silver, when present, is often lost in processing, precipitating as a cyanide-insoluble jarosite in the residue. Depending on pressure oxidation conditions, the degree of silver loss to jarosite can vary dramatically. Batch bench-scale testwork is often performed to define that loss, and then assess the implications in continuous operations. This paper focusses specifically on the impact of CESL pressure oxidation conditions on silver recovery, and discusses limitations of batch bench-scale testing as well as means of overcoming these limitations to better predict silver recovery in the scale up from bench-scale to continuous operations. Since silver is only partially soluble in both sulphate and chloride media, it will gradually leach and deport to a jarosite as oxidation progresses. When a silver-insoluble anion, for example iodide, is dosed prior to oxidation, there is a marked improvement in silver recovery from batchgenerated residue; however, that benefit is not consistently seen in continuous operations. The difference has been attributed to the dynamic solution conditions in the batch test, specifically the first few moments of oxidation. Using these principles, a predictive correlation has been established between initial leach concentrations of iron and acid and ultimate silver recovery with iodide addition.

By Jan G. H. du Preez, C. Viviers, B. J. A. M. van Brecht, H. E. Rohwer, Nicole M. Sumter

"At the basis of metal ion separation lies some particularly metal ion specific chemical property which lends itself towards exploitation. This could be in the form of an anionic complex or a neutral chelate complex. In the former a cationic centre with a particularly high affinity for the complex will have to be designed. In the latter case a stereospecific chelate ligand containing the correct symmetry and type of donor atoms will have to be designed. In both above cases the ""active centre"" can be entered in a from that it can function in different media of hydrophobicity, eg a precipitant, a resin or a solvent extractant. Recent results obtained in this laboratory will be used to illustrate how the above variables can be exploited to develop improved processes for the separation of base metal and platinum group metals.IntroductionThe separation of metal ions in hydrometallurgy can be performed broadly speaking with two major aims. Firstly the separation/removal of a certain group of metal ions, either as a means of preconcentration or as a removal from effluent as part of a purification process and, secondly the removal of a specific metal ion from an industrial stream in order to produce a specific metal in a pure form. This latter operation is by far the most difficult of the two and is becoming more so in the light of the fact that the world is moving in the direction of lower grade ores and increasing pollution. Such a process can be divided into three essential parts, firstly the molecular one in which an active centre is required to obtain specificity, secondly a matrix within which this active centre must function, i.e. as part of a resin or solvent extractant and thirdly the design of the total system to optimize the realization of the operation."

Jan 1, 1996