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By E. Anelli

Based on experimental continuous cooling transformation (CCT) diagrams, an artificial neural network has been trained to predict the amount of microsturctural constituents and hardness resulting from and controlled cooling at rates from 150 to 0.015 K/s. It can be applied to quenching and normalizing processes of low-alloy steels with 0.05-0.30 C% and 0.4-2.0% Mn -with possible microalloying additions. Examples of the good predictive capabilities about 15 Vickers standard deviation for hardness and a few percent for volume fraction of phases) are reported' Keywords: Austenite decomposition, low. And medium-carbon steels, artificial neural networks

Jan 1, 2003

By Antti Roine

HSC Chemistry is a widely-used therniochemical tool in the chemical and metallurgical industries and in universities. The main reasons for it's popularity is the easy user interface and the large integrated thermochemical database. This paper summarizes the main properties of the new HSC Chemistry version 3.0, and gives a short review of the new features: Some metallurgical applications with the new features are also presented. HSC Chemistry 3:0 contains seven calculation modules and a thermochemical database with more than 11 ,000 chemical compounds. The new spreadsheet type table editor gives more control to the user, the new graphics routines have fewer limitations and more formatting properties. The capability and speed of calculation routines have also been improved.

Jan 1, 1998

By Takashi Fujii

In the OG (Osaka Gas) process which includes a fusion process of sewage disposal sludge in coke bed knowledge of molten and fluid properties of the sludge are most important to controll the process in good condition. Thus, the softening and melting temperatures and viscosity were measured by the sessile drop technique and a rotating viscometer. Obtained results are summarized as follows: Melting character of sludge slag is varied according to their composition, but closely related to CaO/SiO2 ratio in ordinary sludge and to CaO/(Cr2O3,+Al2O3+P2O5) ratio in Cr2O3 containing sludge. Fluid property of sludge slag has a correlation with optical basicity or Riboud parameter, However, the correlation is poorer than that of metallurgical slags. Especially, chromium oxide containing sludge shows high viscosity and behaves somewhat different manner from ordinary sludge.

Jan 1, 1992

By Harrison Cooper, Stephen Pack

"Data from samples taken during rotary air blast and reverse circulation drilling are crucial to properly assessing economics of mineral deposits in the case of exploratory work, and are equally critical in accurately delineating ore and waste in execution of mine operation plans. Past studies of sampling procedures, comparing results of conventional splitting to more precise extraction of representative samples, illustrate the significant degree of error frequently encountered. Economic impact of error in mine blast hole sampling work can be shown to result in theoretical losses valued at millions of dollars annually in operating large scale mining projects. Results of past drill sampling studies are reviewed.Drill sampling technique can be improved by collecting coarse and fine particles together and extracting samples for assay from the complete flow of rock and dust simultaneously. This can be accomplished with a collection unit attached to the drill stem through which all except a small proportion of extreme fines are retained. The bulk mass can be static sampled as flow takes place through the collector when size reduction is not required. Alternately, collected mass with fines and coarse intermingled can be processed for increased accuracy through size reduction to obtain proportional samples."

Jan 1, 1999

By Joel A. Huffinan

"This presentation is being given to better inform the audience of the dependability of precious metal analysis by fire assay. A brief explanation, however, of standard fire assay exploration procedures will be given. An overview of other types of analyses by fire assay will be discussed as well, and the operation of a modern day assay laboratory.IntroductionThe use of lead oxide for the fire assay process dates back to the finds in Troy II and the Cappadocian Tablets about 3,000 B.C. Some advances have been made in the basic procedures due to instrumentation and electronics, but the fusion and cupellation procedures used in fire assay remain much the same as during this period.In 1600 AD. Agricola was the first to take a scientific approach to fire assay recording methods and procedures used (Hillerbrand and Allen, 1905) [1]. Since this period, much of the recognized research into the analysis of ores and metals was carried out in the late 1800's and early 1900's prior to World War II, and again after the deregulation of precious metals. The renewed interest in precious metals mining and metallurgy are due much to advances in precious metals heap leaching in late 1970's."

Jan 1, 1999

By B. Q. Li, S. P. Song

"This paper describes an on-going research on developing coupled boundary element and finite element algorithms for the solution of thermal and electrodynamic problems relating to materials processing. The coupled methods are uniquely suitable for field problems involving composite regions, in which detailed information on field distributions within one particular region is of more interest and yet the solution can be obtained only if the effects of other regions are all considered. Problems of this type include heat transfer in multiple regions and also magnetic induction involving an infinite boundary. The hybrid boundary and finite element formulation, algorithm development and the applications are discussed. Two examples are given to demonstrate the capability and accuracy of the coupled algorithm for heat transfer problems. Various treatments of corner discontinuity are discussed. It is found that the double flux treatment is an ideal choice amongst those tested as it is easy to implement and also gives the most accurate solution. 1. INTRODUCTIONElectrodynamic and transport problems occur frequently in materials processing systems. Accurate solution of these problems is of great importance not only for our fundamental understanding of physical principles governing these phenomena in the processing systems but also for optimization of the existing processes as well as development of new processes. For this purpose, many numerical algorithms have been developed. These computational schemes in general can be classified into three categories, that is, the finite element and finite difference schemes and the boundary element scheme. The former two are domain based numerical algorithms while the latter the boundary-based algorithm.The finite element method, which is based on the variational calculus, is a very useful and yet popular engineering numerical method for boundary value problems defined over irregular boundaries. The use of the method requires the discretization of the entire domain. It can be applied to solve both linear and nonlinear problems, but is particularly powerful for nonlinear problems that involve the field variables defined within the computational domain. On the other hand, the boundary element method, with its root in the Green's function method, is very efficient for linear boundary value problems or nonlinear problems that involve field variables only along the boundaries. The primary advantage of the boundary element method lies in the fact that only the boundaries of the computational domain need to be discretized, and hence the dimension of the problem is reduced by one, compared with the finite element method."

Jan 1, 1994

By Shenghui Guo, Jian Chen, Hongbo Zhu, Jinhui Peng, Linqing Dai, Qianxu Ye

"Response surface method (RSM) based on mono-factor experiment was applied for the process optimization of sintering of chromite fines by microwave. In RSM analysis, effects of binder addition amount, sintering temperature and holding time on the compression strength and shatter strength of the sinter were examined. Results showed that the optimal values of the above parameters were determined as follows: binder addition amount of 1.90% (in mass), sintering temperature of 1153? and holding time of 16 min. Under the optimized conditions, the compression strength was 11155.8? and shatter strength was 95.6849%. The results show that the process was optimized by response surface methodology is stable and feasible, and provide a new way for sintering of chromite fines.IntroductionChromite ore is the main feedstock for ferrochrome, and ferrochrome can be used as steelmaking additive to produce a variety of great strength, corrosion resistant and oxidation resistant special steel, which can be widely used in the aerospace, automotive, shipbuilding, military departments[1], and it has important strategic significance. At present, among the annual world's mined chromite the number of lump ore continues to diminish with its price rising sharply, while the proportion of ore fines been always increased, and the difference in prices between ore fines and lump ore is growing[2]. Despite the low price of chromite fines, and its rich in resources, it can be only used for ferrochrome smelting after agglomeration. Thus manufacturing blocks by using cheap chromite fines is an effective measure to reduce the cost of ferrochrome production and use the chromite resources[3]."

Jan 1, 2013

By Robert Matusewicz

Ausmelt Technology has been applied to the recycling of spent pot liner (SPL) generated from primary alnminum production. The process is centered on the Ausmelt furnace, in which the SPL is converted under high temperature, oxidizing conditions to an HF containing gas stream and inert slag. fluorine is recovered from the SPL as HF gas and is concentrated and used to manufacture AIF) for recycle to the aluminum smelters. Approximately 87% of the fluorine can be recovered and converted to AIF), with the remainder being effectively tied up in the by product slag. Cost projections show that the recycling process will be competitive with other processes for SPL. The production and recycling of AIF) provides available credit that significantly offsets the operating cost of the facility. Ausmelt Technology for recycling of SPL is currently being marketed in North America by Ausmelt Technology Corporation in Denver, Colorado, and in the rest of the world by Ausmelt Limited of Dandenong, Australia.

Jan 1, 1996

By A. P. Pavia

Investigation on profitable ways to recover significant quantities of silver remaining dissolved in highly concentrated chloride solutions frequently pass through the development of solvent extraction (SX) routes. In this work, the general pathways involving Ag(I) extraction by dibutylthiourea (DBT) or tetraethylthiuram disulfide (disulfiram, DSF), from concentrated acidic chloride solutions, are investigated. With this purpose, the dependence of Ag(I) distribution coefficient on ligand and chloride concentrations has been analysed. Furthermore, in order to check whether there is some protonation at any site of DBT or DSF after contact with adequate chloride phases, lH NMR has also been used. The collected spectroscopic data suggest that anionic Ag(I) extraction reactions are not likely to occur. Based on the overall results achieved, proposals for the most probable Ag(I) extraction reactions are made.

Jan 1, 2001

By Bogdan Petkovic, Boban Todorovic

In the early 90's a completely unknown problem was encountered at the converter Department: it was a chronic shortage of the cold copper charge needed for the second operating period. A high temperature operating regime was caused which further provoked a chain of consequences such as a drastic drop of the number of operations in campaigns. The consumption of repair bricks reached the quantity of 8.3955 kg / tonne of anode Cu. In 1994, we won the process of cold material smelting during the "copper" blowing [2]. The number of operations per campaign reached 180-200 again. Also in 1994 we won the process of smelting cold materials to obtain "tin" blowing with the purpose of completing their processing cycle [2]. During the period 1994 – 2007 a total of 107,845 tonnes of cold material were remelted to make copper and 56,794 tonnes were re-smelted to obtain "tin". Upon synthesizing these two processes, a completely new model was achieved in 2005, by Bogdan Petkovic, which entirely utilized all available energy of the Peirce-Smith (PS) converters of the Bor Copper Smelter and now represents the basis of the time cycle. The cold material now enters the converter plant, copper recovery is increased and the method itself is environmentally friendly. 167

Jan 1, 2009

By F. Michael Hosking

Modeling of a furnace brazing process is described. The computational tools predict the thermal response of loaded hardware in a hydrogen brazing furnace to programmed furnace profiles. Experiments were conducted to validate the model and resolve computational uncertainties. The results from selected furnace simulations and measured thermal events were compared. Critical boundary conditions that affect materials and processing response to the furnace environment were determined. "Global" and local issues (i.e., at the furnace/hardware and joint levels, respectively) are discussed. The ability to accurately simulate and control furnace conditions is examined.

Jan 1, 1998

By Courtney Young, Jerome Downey

"The various technologies developed for treating spent potlining (SPL) from primary aluminum smelters have been reviewed on several occasions. The technologies generally involve physical, chemical, and thermal processes, either individually or in combination, with the primary objective of total recycle, waste minimization, or complete disposal. In general, those technologies geared for recycling involve separations and are therefore subject to recovery inefficiencies that are attributed to several factors. However, the inefficiencies could be reduced or possibly eliminated if the pots were designed for recyclability. This concept is applied to SPLASH, a recently developed SPL management technology.IntroductionAluminum is produced by molten salt electrolysis via the Hall-Héroult process. The process is conducted in an electrolytic “pot,” which is comprised of a steel frame first lined with insulating refractory brick, and then conductive graphite blocks, which serves as the carbon cathode [1, 2]. These materials are collectively referred to as “potlining.” Anodes comprised of petroleum coke/pitch are suspended above the pot and extend down into the molten cryolite (Na3AlF6) electrolyte. The electrolyte temperature is maintained at approximately 980 °C by resistance heating as low voltage (4-5 volts) and high current (50,000-300,000 amps) are applied across the two electrodes.High purity alumina is added to the cryolite bath, where it dissolves and becomes amenable to aluminum reduction at the cathode:"

Jan 1, 2008

By E. O. Ávila-Davila, F. R. Barrientos-Hernández, I. A. Lira -Hernández, Miguel Pérez-Labra, M. Reyes-Pérez, J. Antonio Romero-Serrano

Slag from smelting reduction processes were characterized by chemical analysis, XRD, SEM-EDS and XRF. The results revealed Ag concentrations of 362 g/t of slag, the slag mineralogical characterization by XRD and SEM-EDS showed mineralogical species oxidized complex containing Pb, Zn, Ca, Si, Fe, As, S in its structure, silver was found in globules associated lead in the slag and the furutobeite specie. The leaching study was conducted to evaluate process variables such as NaCN concentration: from 7.8x10-3M - 1.26x10-1M, temperature: 25-50°C, particle size: +140 mesh to -400 mesh, stirring speed of 750 rpm - 900 rpm. All studies were performed with a NaOH concentration of 0.2 M. The optimal values of silver recovery encountered in conditions of 7.8x10-3M NaCN, agitation rate of 750 rpm, temperature of 35°C and with a treatment time of 240 min. We also observed that a particle size -400 mesh will have optimum recoveries compared to +140 mesh, +200, +270 and +325.

Jan 1, 2015

By Wei Yin, Bin Xu, Qian Li, Yongbin Yang, Tao Jiang

Copper anode slime is an increasingly significant resource for precious metals such as Au, Ag and Pd. The extraction of Au, Ag and Pd from decopperized anode slime by different pretreatments and different lixiviants including cyanide, chloride, thiourea and thiosulfate have been investigated. When oxidizing roasting pretreatment was carried out under the conditions of roasting time 120min and temperature 625 ℃, the removal ratios of S and Sb could reach 82.18% and 98.52%, respectively. And the following alkaline leaching of calcine could result in the dissolution of 46.40% Cu and 98.48% Pb. The optima leaching ratios of Au, Ag and Pd reached 99.48%, 97.69%, 94.79% by cyanide leaching, and 95.01%, 79.84%, 96.59% by chloride leaching, and about 95.21%, 95.66%, 48.79% by thiourea/thiosulfate leaching.

Jan 1, 2015

Heap leaching with thiosulfate is only used in one location for the treatment of a refractory preg-robbing gold ore initially pre-treated with bio-oxidation. The chemistry of thiosulfate leaching is complex. Further work is required to develop a better control of the system. A mild refractory gold ore containing pyrite and chalcopyrite was used in this study to investigate the use of thiosulfate as an alternative heap leaching technology. Preliminary bottle rolls tests indicated that similar gold extraction was obtained with cyanide and thiosulfate. In the column leach test, effects of thiosulfate, copper and ammonia concentrations, and their ratio on both gold extraction and reagent consumption, were assessed. The range of reagent concentration were: 0.1 - 1.0M (NH4)2S2O3, 0.03 - 0.10M CuSO4*5H2O, 1.0 - 6.0M NH4OH. The solid-liquid ratio was in the range of 0.83:1 to 5: 1. Best results showed that 72% of gold was extracted in 50 days with 0.3M (NH4)2S2O3, 0.05M CuSO4*5H2O and 6M NH4OH or a combination of 1.0M (NH4)2S2O3, 0.03M CuSO4*5H2O and 3M NH4OH. The reagent consumption at solid/liquid ratio of 3:1 was 37 - 48.6 kg/t (NH4)2S2O3 and 0 - 0.62 kg/t CuSO4*5H2O. The results of thiosulfate leaching were also compared with cyanide leaching.

Jan 1, 1999

By Thomas J. Keefe, O&apos

Results of metal electrodeposition experiments conducted at the University of Brussels and University of Missouri-Rolla over the past few years are reviewed in terms of the relationship and impact on industrial processes. Examples are cited from common electrowinning, electrorefining, or electroplating operations for copper, zinc, nickel, cobalt and silver. The following topics are considered : metallographic structure, crystallographic texture, surface morphology, nucleation and growth, additive monitoring and effects, high current density, substrate related properties including adhesion. The studies were conducted on a variety of scales from laboratory beaker tests to full sized pilot and industrial operating plants.

Jan 1, 1993

By Richard D. Hagni

Ore microscopy is a useful technique to detect and study the ore minerals that are associated with sediment-hosted and volcanic-hosted deposits of finely disseminated gold and silver. Ore microscopy can be used to determine the: 1) precious metal-bearing minerals in some ores, 2) associated ore minerals that may form geochemical exploration halos, 3) character of iron sulfide grains, 4) extent of sulfide oxidation, 5) character of oxidized iron minerals, 6) character of original sulfide grains from a study of the hypogene and supergene oxidized ores, 7) relative time of oxidation, 8) character of organic matter, 9) minerals that may consume excessive amounts of cyanide solution, 10) extent of silicification and silica encapsulation, and 11) possibility of salting.

Jan 1, 1987

By Joseph C. Milbourne

The selection of a suitable nitrate removal process depends on a variety of site-specific chemical and environmental issues. The dominant technologies for nitrate removal include biological denitrification and continuous countercurrent ion exchange. The decision to apply either of these technologies, or both together, depends on the nature of the waste water to be treated. Factors that affect the selection of the biological system include the feed composition and feed temperature. Ion exchange nitrate removal systems are less sensitive to the feed composition but require disposal or destruction of the concentrated pregnant eluate. The paper discusses Tetra's continuous countercurrent ion exchange technology (CCIXTM) and fixed film biological reactor, Denite°. The treatment of the ion exchange pregnant eluant is also discussed.

Jan 1, 1994

By Antoine Allanore, Luis A. Ortiz, Donald R. Sadoway

"The steelmaking industry has drastically reduced its energy consumption in the last fifty years, and today’s technologies are considered to operate at their optimal efficiency with respect to energy needs. To cope with new constraints related to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, a change of paradigm is necessary. One of the promising technologies that could be deployed to help reach CO2 mitigation targets relies on the intensive use of electricity: molten oxide electrolysis (MOE). This paper presents the key process parameters that need to be tuned to address the practical needs for both high productivity in a steelmaking reactor and for an energy efficient process. Herein we show that contrary to common perception, the electrolysis process for ironmaking requires less energy than today’s chemical reduction route. Furthermore, we prove that most of the energy that must be provided to operate the electrolytic iron production cell is thermal energy which is readily generated by joule heating during electrolysis due to large currents being passed through the electrolyte. The energy consumption of the electrolysis cell is therefore shown to be highly dependent on the cell configuration and the chemistry of the electrolyte. As a consequence, the CO2-impact of the technology strongly depends on both the power production mode and the technological choices for design of the process, including cell configuration. Surprisingly enough, even when the electricity generation is not carbon-free, MOE still appears to be viable from the perspective of reducing GHG emissions providing sound reactor design considerations are made.IntroductionIn the context of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions mitigation, the steelmaking industry is considering several techniques that could sustain the efforts and progress achieved by this sector in the last decades [1]. A recent report [2] on potential routes for low-CO2 steelmaking highlighted for all techniques both the strong dependency of CO2 emissions on electric power production mode and the need for a decrease in energy consumption per tonne of steel. Incited to innovate with respect to this last criterion, the steel industry considers electrolysis to be a promising technological solution, and in particular the molten oxide electrolysis (MOE) process. This process conducts electrolysis in a mixture of oxides that dissolve the iron oxide feed, which by the action of electric current is decomposed into liquid iron and oxygen gas. The opportunity for reduction in energy consumption during steelmaking by MOE is commonly attributed to the “direct” pathway from iron oxide to liquid metal offered by the use of a molten oxide melt and operation at a temperature above the melting point of iron, ideally 1600°C, to provide enough superheat for tapping the molten iron product:"

Jan 1, 2011

By David Seymour

Newmont Gold Company (NGC) located in Northeastern Nevada has been processing carbonaceous and sulfide refractory gold ores through a chlorination circuit prior to cyanidation. A "Flash Chlorination" pilot plant was installed in 1987 in an effort to obtain higher chlorine utilization efficiency and increase gold extraction. The Flash Chlorination process oxidizes organic carbon and sulfide sulfur. It also deactivates preg-robbing carbon, making the ore amenable to cyanidation. Significant recovery improvements were observed using this new process. This scheme has also been instrumental in the processing of higher than normal grade ores at economic chlorine levels. The Flash Chlorination pilot plant has been successfully treating carbonaceous ore on a production scale since April 1988. This paper summarizes laboratory and pilot plant optimization test work, using conventional and statistical methods.

Jan 1, 1989