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By T. T. Chen

Copper anodes generated from copper scrap are relatively rich in Sn, Zn and Fe. Because of the presence of oxygen, only trace amounts of Sn occur in solid solution in the copper crystals. Thus, Sn occurs mainly as SnO2, Cu-Sn-Ni oxide and Sn-Ni-Zn oxide in the copper anodes, and Zn and Fe occur mainly as minor constituents in the Sn-Ni-Zn oxide and Cu-Sn-Ni oxide. During electrorefining, these oxide species are liberated from the copper anodes and report directly to the anode slimes. The trace amounts of Sn present in solid solution in the copper crystals dissolve but reprecipitate as Sn arsenate or a Sb-As-Sn-O phase. Accordingly, high Sn contents in copper anodes do not lead to elevated Sn concentrations in the electrolyte.

Jan 1, 2010

By Vincent Menard

The purpose of the present work is to demonstrate the removal of manganese from a neutral leach zinc-rich solution ([Zn] =150 g/L) at 80°C by oxidative precipitation using a gas mixture of sulphur dioxide (SO2) and oxygen (O2). In order to determine the optimum conditions for manganese removal, several bench-scale semi-batch experiments were performed, where the effects of ORP and gas mixing were investigated. These tests showed that SO2/O2 is a fast and effective oxidant for removing manganese down to ppm level as long as the appropriate ORP is attained/maintained and gas transfer kinetics are optimized.

Jan 1, 2006

By J. W. Bridge

Triaxial compression tests at various confining pressures and temperatures, as well as tangent modulus tests using ultrasonic waves, were conducted for wax-coated granular composite materials. The material used is a surface for Thoroughbred horse racing. The purpose of these tests is to examine how track shear strength and tangent modulus at a range of loads respond to changing temperatures. Previous work has shown that a wide range of operational temperatures are experienced which have been reproduced in the lab. Using differential scanning calorimetry, it is confirmed that these operational temperatures correspond to distinct thermal transition regions for the wax that is used to coat the sand in these surfaces. Preliminary results show that both shear strength and tangent modulus are sensitive to temperature changes with maximum strength and modulus correlating with major DSC wax transition regions.

Jan 1, 2010

By Pinai Mungsantisuk

Keywords: Pd-Ni alloys, Pd-Fe alloys, Pd-Co alloys, Magnetostriction, Magnetic Properties The presence of congruent melting minima, the occurrence of ferromagnetic transition over a large composition range, and FCC type crystal structure make Pd-Ni, Pd-Co, and Pd-Fe based systems attractive candidates in our search for materials with no rare-earths, large low-field magnetostriction, and good mechanical properties. The presence of paramagnetic-ferromagnetic transition over a broad range of composition also provides opportunity for fundamental studies. In this work, we have examined the magnetic and magnetostrictive behavior of Pd-Ni, Pd-Co, and Pd-Fe alloys over the entire composition range. Alloy sample rods were prepared by arc melting and casting. X-ray diffractometer was used to obtain lattice parameter data. Magnetostriction was measured along the rod axis using strain gages. Magnetic properties were measured using a vibrating sample magnetometer.

Jan 1, 2005

By A. Deepatana

Bioleaching of nickel laterite ores is based on the use of heterotrophic fungi organisms and their metabolites (organic acids) to dissolve nickel and cobalt from oxide minerals to form metal-organic complexes. Metal recovery from this process using an aminophosphonic acid based chelating resin (Purolite S950) was investigated as a function of metal concentrations, complexing agent including citric, dL-malic and lactic acids. Batch adsorptions were conducted using synthetic leachate solutions of nickel and cobalt with concentrations from 15 to 2000 mg/L prepared in 0.01 and 0.1 M organic acids. Adsorption equilibrium data were interpreted using the Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin-Kagner-Radushkevich (DKR) models. The results showed that equilibrium adsorption data for nickel-organic complexes followed the Freundlich model and those for cobalt agreed with the Langmuir model. It was observed that the maximum adsorption capacities of nickel and cobalt were 3.26 and 10.48 mg/g resins respectively. These were achieved in metal complexes prepared from 0.01 M lactic acid. Metal elution was conducted using 2 M nitric acid. High metal recoveries were achieved from low metal concentrations but were found to decrease with increasing metal concentration. The results suggest that effective recovery of nickel and cobalt from low concentration of metals, such as those generated from bioleaching operations, can be achieved suitably using chelating resins.

Jan 1, 2006

By Patricia Martínez Nicolás

Nickel and ferronickel are some of the major components in the production of special alloys; however, the energy consumption for their production greatly increases their price. A cheaper option could be to use NiO and a reducing agent. This work presents experimental and theoretical analysis to estimate the effect of slag basicity and amount of reducing agents on the NiO reduction from the slag which interacted with molten steel at 1600 °C in an EAF. The slag system contained CaO, SiO2, CaF2 and NiO together with a reducing agent, ferrosilicon or carbon. The NiO content in the slag was 25 mass%. The amounts of the reducing agents (Si and C) were 1 to 4 times the stoichiometric mass to reduce NiO. The CaO/SiO2 ratio was 1.5 and 2.5. The kinetics of the process was very fast since after few minutes the maximum nickel yield was obtained. The slag basicity had a negligible effect on the reduction of NiO.

Jan 1, 2006

By David G. Dixon

Although the kinetics of leaching processes are of paramount importance in the design and analysis of nearly all hydrometallurgical flowsheets, these concepts remain poorly understood and, as a result, are only rarely applied to mass and heat balance models. In this second of two papers, we demonstrate how simple yet powerful models of leaching kinetics and other rate processes may be added to mass and heat balance models, and apply these concepts using a spreadsheet model of a simplified pyrite autoclaving flowsheet. In particular, we focus on the interpretation and scale-up of batch leaching data, and on simple means for modeling other phenomena commonly associated with leaching, such as reagent depletion, gas-liquid mixing, and the precipitation of oxides and basic salts.

Jan 1, 2002

By Tianjiao Luo

The electroless copper plating process for continuous carbon fiber using CuSO4?5H2O as the main salt and formaldehyde as reducing agent was experimentally studied, including the effects of pH values and concentration of chelating agents, stabilizing agents and reducing agent on the electroless plating process. The surface morphology and the composition of coating were investigated by means of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), and deposited the coating thickness was measured by way of dissolution. The results indicated that the pretreatment of carbon fiber before plating was so important. This pretreatment could prevent the formation of the black cores, furthermore, it could form many active absorption cores with Ag as the center on the carbon fiber surface. Used the optimized parameters in this process, which led to a stable solution for plating, a homogeneous copper coating was conducted with the carbon fiber plated with favorable mechanical performance and high adhesion strength.

Jan 1, 2006

By Do-Hyeong Kim, Tae-Jung Kim, Seung-Yeon Won, Jong-Jin Pak, Min-Kyu Paek

Liquid iron alloys containing V, Mo, and Ni can be produced by the carbothermic reduction of spent catalysts used in petrochemical industry. Thermodynamics of carbon in these alloy melts is important for refining these alloys. In the present study, the carbon solubility in Fe-V, Fe-Mo, Fe-Ni, Fe-V-Mo, Fe-V-Ni, Fe-Mo-Ni and Fe-V-Mo-Ni alloy melts of various compositions was measured at 1873 K. The temperature dependency of vanadium effect on carbon solubility in liquid iron was also measured in the temperature range from 1823K to 1923K. The additions of vanadium and molybdenum significantly increased the carbon solubility in liquid iron alloys while nickel decreased the solubility. The experimental results were thermodynamically analyzed using Lupis’ relation at constant activity to determine the first- and the second-order interaction parameters of vanadium, nickel and molybdenum on carbon at carbon saturated condition. Using thermodynamic parameters determined in the present study, the carbon solubility in Fe-V-Mo-Ni alloy melts of various composition were accurately predicted and verified experimentally at 1873 K.

Jan 1, 2014

By Jianhang Hu, Li Yang, Yonggang Wei, Kongzhai Li

"In this paper, the pyrolysis of biomasses including bamboo, sawdust and walnut shell were performed in a tube furnace under temperatures between 400? and 600? to obtain biomass carbon, gas, and tar. Textural parameters analysis revealed the caloric value of biomass carbons between 32 MJ/kg and 34 MJ/kg. It also indicated that the surface of biomass carbon consists of mesopore and macropore structures. By using GC analysis, it was determined the main ingredients of pyrolysis gas are CO, H2, CO2, CH4, C2H4 and C2H6. Calculation states that the density of pyrolysis gas is roughly between 1.0 kg/m3 and 1.7 kg/m3, while the calorific value of pyrolysis gas is between 12000 kJ/m3 and 16500 kJ/m3, illustrating that pyrolysis gas is a median gas. The calorific value of biomass tar was found to be between 32 MJ/kg and 34 MJ/kg, with more than 80 compounds in the biomass tar identified by GC-MS method.IntroductionBiomass as a renewable source is the world's largest and most sustainable energy resource [1].The conversion of biomass has the potential to be a renewable and carbon neutral method of producing fuels and chemicals [2-4]. Pyrolysis is a thermo-chemical process defined as applying heat to degrade biomass in an inert atmosphere. It transforms unstable biomass and other organic materials into biomass carbon, gas, and tar [5]. Biomass carbon can be stored or transported much easier as compared to parent biomass or be converted to value added products such as activated carbons[6]; gas is a relatively low-energy-density fuel; tar can be considered as a source of useful chemicals[7].The characterization of biomass pyrolysis will lead to its increased understanding and utilization as a source of solid, liquid and gaseous products which can be used as fuels and petrochemical feedstock[8,9].In recent years, many researchers studied the effect of temperature on biomass pyrolysis product distribution characteristics in a variety of pyrolysis reactor[10]. Ramin Azargohar's paper [11] presents the results of characterization for biomass and investigates the effects of pyrolysis temperature on the pyrolysis products obtained by fast pyrolysis of four different types of biomass."

Jan 1, 2014

By Jerry D. St. Clair

A multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers at Wont has been working to understand heavy metal contamination of DuPont process waste streams and technologies for abatement of these metals. As part of this effort, an extensive study was made of a specific waste stream of importance in DuPont's environmental commitment. This 200 gpm stream contains 5-5000 ppm of nickel plus a variety of inorganic and organic constituents. The chemical complexity of the waste rendered conventional. alkaline precipitation ineffective, and only through the simultaneous application of analytical characterization, fundamental chemical understanding, and process engineering did effective technical approaches emerge. In this instance, ion exchange, sulfide precipitation, and caustic digestion ultimately proved successful in reducing the nickel to below the 1 ppm target. The results of this study will be presented, along with key learnings about the process of solving heavy metal contamination problems.

Jan 1, 1994

By Jinwu Kang

The hydraulic turbine blade of the matensitic stainless steel (Cr13%,Ni5%,Mo1%) is a kind of large and curved shape, which is susceptible to deformation in both casting and heat treatment processes. The coupling analysis of heat transfer, phase transformation and stress in heat treatment process of the turbine blade for Three Gorges Project is carried out by using Deform-3D software. Its temperature fields, phase fields and stress fields in heat treatment process are obtained. And its deformation is predicted. In the cooling process of normalizing, the blade exhibits relatively large deformation. Based on the stress analysis and deformation prediction in heat treatment process, an algorithm for the determination of reverse deformation of the blade casting in heat treatment process is presented. And the reverse deformation distribution of blade is obtained.

Jan 1, 2010

By David B. George

Kennecott Utah Copper adopted Outokumpu Flash Smelting and Kennecott-Outokumpu Flash Converting in 1995, a process based on granulating high grade copper matte. While nickel mattes and very small quantities of copper matte had been commercially granulated for years, no large scale copper matte granulation system had been built. This paper summarizes the history and benefits of copper matte granulation, the Kennecott design basis, the successful operation for over 10 years and potential problems inherent in some matte granulation approaches.

Jan 1, 2006

By Francois Reizine

Infrared sensors will include scanning detectors and positioning sensors. The focus will be on 1, 2, and 4-color wavelength pyrometer systems which allow the accurate measurement of emissivity and, consequently, of the true temperature even in the presence of scale, slag, and fumes. Such sensors are being used in blast furnaces, BOF's, and galvanizing lines. Laser sensors will be presented using different principles of physics, mainly time-of-flight, pulsed infrared lasers for level measurement and dimensional measurement; triangulation lasers for width and thickness measurements; and laser Doppler velocimeters for velocity and length measurements, including mass flow, elongation, and tension control, cut-to-length applications. These sensors and systems are based on state-of-the-art technical developments to improve productivity and quality and reduce maintenance and downtime.

Jan 1, 2001

By Andres Vikdahl

The Rönnsktär smelter has recently undergone a series of technical and operational changes. This changes are caused by our own will to remain and gain in competivety and to adapt to the ever changing surroundings. To be able to remain competitive in surrounding with high wage costs, high inflation and high environmental standards thorough cost management is needed. The Swedish economic policy in the beginning of the 80'ies consisted amongst other things of two devaluations. The exchange rate of the Swedish Krona was reduced with approximatively 25 %. This boosted the profits of our export industry, some even believed we entered the land of milk and honey ... And working in this promised land where everything turns into profit it is very difficult to be careful and restrictive with your spendings. Apart from some healthy and fruitful investments we allowed ourselves yearly steady increases in salary for ever reduced number of worked hours and we of course employed more people. Inflation rates went up and so did property prices. In 1986 finally reality catched up on us. Reality in the form of too high costs started to hit Swedish export industry 5-6 years after the big devaluations. Furthermore the high inflation rate also hit the domestic industry a couple of years later. Together with other important factors Sweden faced a severe home-made recession in the beginning of the 90'ies. With this background we now report and analyse our smelter's performance and operating results, shown in fig 1 The main constrictions on smelting and refining at Rönnsktär are today: * Income restrictions by governmental production level Limit * Throughput resmctions by governmental emission limit * High capital costs in the aftermath of Swedish high inflation in the recent decade * Low work force turnover Below we will illustrate how we tackled with these issues along the following lines: * People * Quality * Technology

Jan 1, 1993

By S. Uddin

An integrated device has been developed to measure sedimentation potential, conductivity and pH simultaneously of particulate systems. Maxwell?s model was used to calculate volume fraction of solid from the conductivity data. In this approach, all system variables are known and zeta potential can be calculated from Smoluchowski?s equation. The technique is validated by comparing zeta potential vs. pH for alumina and silica suspensions with electrophoresis measurements. The technique was extended to mixed alumina/silica systems. Sufficient column height along with size difference between the two minerals allowed gravity fractionation during settling. Sedimentation potential measured over time identified the transition from one mineral to the next. Using XRD analysis the results supported the correlation between surface charge and sample composition. This is a step towards characterizing surface charge of mixed systems of interest in mineral processing.

Jan 1, 2010

By S. Prasad

The effectiveness of ultrasonic velocity measurements and attenuation of the propagating pulse was evaluated as a means of Non-Destructive characterization of cold worked and annealed copper. Commercial copper is subjected to mechanical working such as forging, rolling and thermal treatment to induce re-crystallization. The microstructural changes that occur in copper and a variation in its mechanical properties are subjected to analysis using the ultrasonic technique. The signal processing is carried out using the wavelet analysis technique. The features of wavelet analysis namely, localization in space and the presence of an infinite set of basis functions allows removing noise from the time series and components of a non-stationary signal to be analyzed. This is seen to improve the accuracy of the results obtained from the ultrasonic technique in the case of copper, which has distinct coarse grains that are difficult to inspect due to backscattering from the grain boundaries.

Jan 1, 2010

By I. Gaballah

Cadmium is toxic to plant, animals and humans. The council directive of the European Communities No 8315 13lEEC has fixed an upper limit of 200 ppb for the release of cadmium in industrial effluents. The conventional method of neutralization/prccipitation ( NIP ) is inefficient to reach this limit. The objective of this study is to test the efficiency of the trees modified bark to remove cadmium cations from industrial effluents after the conventional treatment by NIP. Laboratory scale tests with synthetic solutions show that the cadmium removal depends upon pH and initial concentration. About 99.9 %, 99 % and 96 % of the metal are removed from synthetic solutions containing 10, 100 and 1000 ppm respectively. Pilot plant trials ( 1 m3 ) with an industrial effluent bearing about 500 ppb of cadmium lead to the almost complete elimination of the cadmium ( final concentration is lower than the analytical detection limits < 20 ppb ).

Jan 1, 1994

By Walter Curlook

An atmospheric acid leaching process for leaching nickel and cobalt from highly-serpentinized saprolitic fractions of nickel laterite deposits has been developed and patented [I]. The process involves leaching the highly-serpentinized saprolitic portion of the nickel laterite ore profile in strong sulphuric acid solutions at atmospheric pressure and temperatures between 80°C and 100°C, essentially autogenously, to extract over 85% of its contained nickel content and a large proportion of its cobalt content after leaching times of about one hour. The amount of sulphuric acid used in the leaching process is between 80% and 100% by weight of the finely ground highly-serpentinized saprolite ore on a dry weight basis. The metal values are recovered as intermediate products. Key words: Atmospheric Leaching; Nickel Oxide Ores; Laterites

Jan 1, 2004

By Carlos Frias

The lead-acid battery recycling is a major industrial activity (more than four million tonnes recycled lead per year) that generates large amounts of toxic wastes such as lead slag, mattes and acidic sludge, besides airborne emissions. This is a waste-producer industry that needs a definitive solution to avoid its negative environmental impact and getting a sustainable lead production. That is the principal target of the CLEANLEAD technology, which properly combines both hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical routes aiming to get zero-waste production, reducing the use of energy and resources in all phases of battery reprocessing, and consequently, greatly decreasing the operating cost. There will be no toxic emissions to land, water or air, and obtained products are pure lead metal or pure lead oxide, and commercial gypsum instead of waste sludge.

Jan 1, 2006