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By María Eugenia Castro, Silvia Galasso, Jorge Duca, Claudia Osuna, Ernesto Esparza

"We present a procedure for treatment of non-active solutions equivalent to the solutions obtained from dissolution of ionic exchange resins used in purification of a nuclear reactor primary cooling system containing Co, Ni, Cs and its isotropic varieties as main radioactivity source. Finally it is immobilized into a ferritic matrix by calcination which avoids its future leaching into environment.In order to achieve the objective of this treatment, a bivalent and a trivalent iron salt is added to the solution. Then, either a base or an acid is added, depending on the initial pH of the treated solution, with a Cs precipitating additive in order to reduce Co and Cs by precipitation, flocculation and adsorption. Controlling the amount of precipitating reactives it is possible to modify the activity/volume rate becoming a medium into a low radioactivity waste.The leaching test result applied over the ferritic sample is lower than the minimum limit established by law. Therefore, it can be kept safely in a interim storage."

Jan 1, 2008

By Vinay Kumar, Manis Kumar Jha, J. Rajesh Kumar, Archana Kumari, Rekha Panda, Jin Young Lee

Rare earth metals (REMs) play a significant role in the manufacture of permanent magnets, fluorescent lamps, catalysts, medicines, super alloys etc. Recently, China, which controls 97% of world trade in REMs, imposed restriction on its export. Consequently, the global demand of REMs is escalating and is expected to exceed the supply by 40,000 tonnes annually. Present review paper reports the flow-sheets of commercial processes based on pyro-hydro and hybrid techniques as well as systematic research for process development to recover REMs from primary and secondary resources. This review paper also reports the recommendation and future prospective to fulfill its demand and supply gap keeping in view environmental prospective.

Jan 1, 2014

By Robert L. Stephens

"It can be argued that one of the most important property of any material is cost, since this property detennines the applications for which a material can be considered. Despite growing demand and production for commodity metals such as copper, nickel, zinc, lead, and tin, the cost of these metals has been steadily decreasing in real terms. The only way that metal miners and producers can remain financially viable in the long term is by continuing to lower their cost curve through the implementation of new metals production technologies. This paper reviews technological developments in the production of copper, nickel, zinc, lead, and tin that have or threaten to redefine the cost curves for these metals.DisclaimerThe opinions expressed in this paper the author's, and are not necessarily those held by the author's employer, Cominco Ltd.IntroductionThis meeting will discuss many novel technologies and processes for producing metals and materials with specific properties that will enhance the applications ranges for the material or will allow entirely new applications to be developed. However, in every real-world case, the cost of the new material or process is an important property that determines which applications the material or process can be used in. Other properties that are important depend on the applications.A recent press report (1) discussing the potential replacement of aluminum radiators with copper radiators in pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles provides an interesting example to reinforce the importance of cost in materials selection. In this case, the displacement of aluminum by copper is being considered because of the more favorable heat dissipation characteristics of copper. Heat dissipation has become more important due to the development of hotter-burning V-8 and V-6 engines. For this application, engineers also consider cost, weight, size, durability, and manufacturing process. The report stated that the development by the International Copper Association (ICA) of the ""CuproBraze"" manufacturing process for heat transfer products was an important development. This technology produces 845 radiators that weigh less, are more uniform in quality, and are potentially more compact. They are also expected to cost less in high production quantities than copper units produced in the past, last three to four times longer than soldered copper radiators, and the process also eliminates the use of lead solder from the manufacturing process."

Jan 1, 2000

By Jay S. Gunasekera

Since great emphasis is being placed on the manufacturing science and processing science programs in the Department of Defence and other government research agencies and industries; currently, extensive research on computer aided design(CAD)/ computer aided manufacturing (CAM)/ and computer aided engineering (CAE) is being conducted at Ohio University (OU) . OU has invested over a million dollars in CAD/CAM hardware and software. Design and analysis packages like ALPID, NIKE, STREAM, SHEAR, POLY_FLON, RINGROLL have been developed or modified at OUusing finite element method, finite difference techniques or enhanced slab analysis. Packages like ABAQUS, FLUENT, and NASTRAN have been extensively used.

Jan 1, 1990

By Edgar Peek

"The two dominant metallurgical problems in treating most base metal sulphide concentrates in both the chloride and sulphate system are iron removal and sulphur elimination, respectively [1-3]. In this paper the opportunities, limitations and fundamentals of the chloride metallurgy system are described against this background. Only the treatment of oxide and sulphide ores is considered. Both hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical unit process operations are highlighted, since most successful base metal processes are based on a combination of the two. Hence, an overview of the technical and also some economical aspects of chloride metallurgy are presented.This overview summarizes the successful applications of chloride metallurgy, but it will not give exhaustive process and plant descriptions. It predominantly focuses on the essential technical features of the metallurgical unit process operations, while providing numerous references separately."

Jan 1, 2011

By G. M. Bond

Reduction of the emissions of greenhouse gases, such as CO,, is currently the subject of extensive research. A novel strategy is put forward here, based on a biomimetic approach providing accelerated deposition into carbonate form for long-term sequestration. It offers the advantages of a process that: does not require concentration of CO, from flue gases; could potentially be used in an on-site scrubber to provide a plant-by-plant solution to reducing CO, emissions; is an environmentally benign procss with an environmentally benign product; and is based on readily available, low-cost reagents (except perhaps the catalyst).

Jan 1, 1999

By Xinhua Wang, Qiangqiang Wang, Yubin Li, Shusen Li, Lifeng Zhang

"Numerical simulation on the fluid flow in a Flow-Control Mold (FC-Mold) were performed. The motion of inclusions were calculated. With FC-Mold, the flow pattern and surface velocity become more symmetrical, and at higher casting speed the velocity of liquid steel in the top region of the mold was largely reduced with the highest velocity of the meniscus reducing from 0.65 mis to 0.4 mis, and the meniscus shape became flatter. With FC-Mold, more inclusions approached to the surface of the slab and the amount of inclusion in the center of mold became fewer. Larger inclusions were easier to remove, however, the EM filed of the FC-Mold could hardly improve the removal of inclusions from the molten steel.IntroductionElectromagnetic brake technology is an effective method to control the flow pattern within continuous casting mold, together with other casting parameters, nozzle design and mold geometry [1-5]. Due to the interaction between the applied magnetic flux and the conductive molten steel inside the mold cavity, a force is generated in the direction opposite to the jet flow, which can decelerate the high speed steel jet from the SEN ports. The potential benefits include fewer surface and internal defects, fewer inclusion especially at higher casting speed. However if used imperfectly, electromagnetic forces can have opposite effect [6]. Numerical models are the best tool to optimize electromagnetic flow control. In the current study, numerical simulation was performed to investigate the flow field in a continuous casting FC-Mold, and the effect of different operation parameters on the flow, surface level and velocity in FC-Mold were discussed."

Jan 1, 2013

By George P. Demopoulos

In this paper the production and stability of crystalline scorodite (FeAsO4·2H2O) is discussed both on the basis of previously published work as well as recent work performed in our laboratory. The production of scorodite, especially from arsenic-rich and iron-deficient sulphate solutions offers a number of operational advantages such as high arsenic content, stoichiometriciron demand, and excellent dewatering characteristics. In addition to hydrothermal production of scorodite the work done over the last 10 years in our laboratory has determined that it is feasible to produce scorodite by step-wise lime neutralization at 90°C. The atmospheric scorodite possesses the same structural and solubility characteristics with the hydrothermally produced scorodite. Long term equilibration tests (up to 66 weeks) in the pH range 5 to 9 and temperatures from 22 °C to 75 °C revealed scorodite to undergo slow incongruent dissolutionyielding a highly metastable nano-sized 2-line ferrihydrite phase. The equilibrium arsenic concentration with this phase was 0.35, 0.96 and 5.87 mg/L at pH 5, 6, and 7 respectively at 22°C. In the presence of gypsum slightly lower concentrations were measured, this being more pronounced at pH>7. It was tentatively deduced that a Fe-Ca-AsO4 association (in the form of a phase resembling the mineral yukonite) contributes to the lowering of As concentration. Finally thermodynamic calculations determined that scorodite is stable in the presence of ferrihydriteunder oxic conditions up to pH 6.75 at 22 °C or higher pH at lower temperature and gypsum-saturated solutions. Keywords: Scorodite, Crystallization, Arsenic, Solubility, Stability, Precipitation, Disposal, Extraction, Processing, Metals, and Environment.

Jan 1, 2005

By Chen L. Lin

Scientific visualization is an ideal methodology for investigating complex phenomena that are characterized by large amounts of data. Furthermore, it is invaluable in the study of processes that evolve in time. Scientific visualization relies heavily on computer graphics, image processing and video technologies. Specific applications of scientific visualization in the minerals and materials processing fields that are considered in this paper include: 1) applied CT technology for multiphase materials and minerals, 2) time averaged density profla in air- sparged hydrocyclone (ASH) flotation and 3) dynamic motion analysis of ball mill grinding.

Jan 1, 1993

By W. G. Davenport

The flash furnace is used for smelting concentrate to (i) high-Cu matte and (ii) molten metallic copper. It is also used for converting solidified/crushed matte to molten metallic copper. This is flash converting. It consists (Table 20.1, Fig. 20.1) of: (a)tapping molten 65 to 72% Cu matte from a flash smelting furnace (b) granulating the molten matte to ?1/2 mm particles in a 103 m3/hour water torrent (c) crushing the granulated matte to 50 µm in a vertical roller mill (d)drying the crushed matte (e) feeding the dry particulate matte to a second flash furnace for oxidation converting to molten copper. In 2000, flash converting is being used by Kennecott Utah Copper (George, et al; 1995; Newman et al, 1998, 1999a,b). A second installation is being designed for the Chuquicamata smelter (www.outokumpu.com [October 12, 2000]), The potential uses of flash converting are: (a) as the second half of a flash smelting/flash converting coppermaking sequence (b) as a continuous converting alternative to batch submerged tuyere converting. This chapter uses our flash furnace matrix to determine the %O2-in-blast, industrial oxygen and oil requirements for converting solidified 65% and 72% Cu matte to molten copper. It then discusses choice of feed matte grade and other aspects of the process.

Jan 1, 2001

By Barry Welch, Kai Grjotheim

"The capital intensive nature of the present process for aluminium smelting, the low productivity per unit reactor, and pressure to reduce the electdcal energy demand have motivated the search for an alternative process. Optional routes include carbo-thennal reduction of alumina (using an alloy phase immediate), chlorination followed by electrolysis of aluminium chloride, and electrolytic decomposition of alumina using inert electrodes. Materials performance and reactor design constraints have been a major limitation for alternatives. However parallel research has led to considerable advances in the process efficiencies and scale of both the Bayer process and the Hall-Heroult cells.Future development of alternatives is dependent on breakthroughs in Materials Science such as the development of stable conducting anodes and stable wettable cathode materials. However if successful it is probable that some spin-offs will be retrofitted to existing cells. Therefore the basic Hall-Heroult technology will continue as the dominant process for at least the next half century.IntroductionThe present Bayer/Hall-Heroult process for production of aluminium is just over 100 years old. Frequently, during the century of its technological development questions have been raised as to whether it is the ideal route for metal production. The questioning was particularly intense in the period between the mid-1950s and the mid-1060s when the limitations of the Hall-Heroult electrolytic stage were evident. Then the cells were only 30 to 35 % efficient with respect to the utilisation of the hydro-electricity (requiring 16 18 kWh/kg, thus making it strongly dependent on cheap electrical energy), while the size of cells being installed were 80 to 130 kA. Hence the process was capital intensive, the productivity per reactor volume low, and the process was labour intensive (requiring about 15 man hours per tonne of aluminium). In addition, the use of pitches for Soderberg anodes and the fluoride electrolyte were creating problems through emission. At that time material science had paid little attention to the manufacture and use of carbonaceous materials or the development of alternatives that were corrosion resistant to cryolite or liquid aluminium. Hence cell lives were short - typically 600 to 1000 days - thus adding to operating costs. Thus the grass over the fence, as foreseen in 1960s vintage crystal balls appeared much greener for alternative processes."

Jan 1, 1988

By Shigeo Asai

"Electromagnetic processing of materials is newly proposed to be considered as one of the engineering fields where functions of electromagnetism are utilized for processing electrically conducting materials, such as liquid metals, electrolytes and plasmas. The background requiring this processing and the engineering characteristics supporting it are described. The applicable functions of electromagnetism to material processing are revealed from the view point of magnetohydrodynamics. The existing processes and the proposed ones are classified into utilized functions and engineering applications are discussed. IntroductionElectric energy has been used in the metallurgical field for the processes of melting, refining and solidification. In these cases both the magnetic field which is induced by an imposed electric current, and the electric current are applied on electrically conducting materials such as molten metals. Thus, it turns out that the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) phenomena have unconsciously been seen in metallurgical processes using electric current. The academic backbone studying MHD phenomena is the Magnetohydrodynamics which is being developed in the fields of plasma physics, astrophysics, fusion research and nuclear energy.The first attempt where magnetohydrodynamics was intentionally applied on metallurgy was a Symposium of IUTAM (The International Union of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics) in titled as ""Metallurgical Applications of Magnetohydrodynamics"" at Cambridge, UK, 1982 [1]. This timely event stimulated a few metallurgists to recognize the importance of ~MHD and was a good warning to the metal societies in the world. Especially in Japan, the Steelmaking Investigative Subcommittee of Research Planning Committee in the ISIJ (The Iron and Steel Institute of Japan) discussed the application of ~IHD to metallurgy and selected it as one of the four major innovative subjects for future steelmaking technology in Japan [2]. Indeed, the term of ""Electromagnetic Metallurgy"" itself was firstly coined by this subcommittee. Upon the request of a report from the subcommittee, the ISIJ has established a committee on ""Electromagnetic Metallurgy"" at 1985, under the author's chairmanship."

Jan 1, 1988

By H. Y. Sohn

The considerable progress made in the sulfide smelting technology since the first International Sulfide Symposium of 1983 is discussed. The new developments and innovations have largely been driven by the recognition of environmental concern as well as the need for increased productivity. The smelting technologies for various nonferrous metals are reviewed, with an emphasis on the industry trend towards larger plants and continuous processes. The tremendous advances made in process modeling and computer simulation to describe the complex smelting processes are also reviewed. The goal of these mathematical models is the quantitative description of the processes and the reactors that will provide a means for the control and optimization of smelting operations as well as the optimal design of the operating conditions and the reactors. Environmental issues remain a key consideration in the smelting industry. One of the most remarkable improvements made in the last fifteen years since the 1983 Sulfide Smelting Symposium is the rapid increase in the sulfur capture by nonferrous smelters. This and other related issues are briefly discussed. Finally, the challenges that the smelting industry faces as the new millenium approaches are discussed. The industry continues to face technical challenges to improve productivity and efficiency, while being responsive to ever-increasing public pressure for environmental protection. It also faces external challenges from factors that may cause the reduction of metal uses as a result of substitutions by other materials. Another serious challenge and dire consequence that the primary metals industry is expected to face is the serious diminution of university-educated manpower as well as basic-research output. To remain competitive and healthy, the industry should take up the void left by the complete disappearance, at least in the U.S., and the reduction in other nations, of the governmental support of higher education and basic research in the field of primary metals production.

Jan 1, 1998

By J. P. Bellot

During the non-ferrous metal processing, the melting step under vacuum or under rarefied gas leads to volatile metal losses. It is the case of the metallurgical processing of the nickel-based, titanium-based or zirconium-based alloys where the evaporation losses don't allow a sufficient control of the alloy chemical composition. A theoretical approach has been carried out involving both a continuum description in the liquid phase and a molecular approach in the rarefied gas phase. The finite volume method is used in order to solve the coupled transport equationsin the liquid, whereas the Boltzmann equation is modelled by using a Monte Carlo method. At the liquid metal and metallic vapor interface, the volatilization and recondensation fluxes link up the two calculations. Simulation results are given for the melting and refining of reactive metals such as titanium alloys where the control of the chemical composition remains a major difficulty. The validity of the kinetic Langmuir's law is discussed for different operating conditions.

Jan 1, 1996

By Alexander Burns

Electrolytic salt splitting is a technology where acid and/or base is regenerated from a neutral salt using membrane electrolysis. Recent advances in the understanding of brine treatment, membrane stability, and cell design have made electrolytic salt splitting feasible on certain hydrometallurgical solutions. Meanwhile, environmental regulations have made the bulk disposal of salt solutions more difficult. In this paper, sodium sulfate salt splitting is examined from a cost perspective, compared to purchasing the reagents directly. Relative costs are estimated for several regions based on published electricity and reagent prices. The results show that salt splitting is economically favourable in some regions, and can be made more favourable by applying modifications to the traditional three-compartment desig

By Christopher R. Casias

A basic methodology is presented (employing both standard and theoretical assessment, analysis. and data interpretation techniques) for classifying waste containing trace levels of radionuclldes. Despite increased regulatory requirements for handling. transporting. and disposing of such waste: (I) no formal characterization methodology has yet been Implemented. and (2) no limits have been set to define the point at which a waste material is considered to be low-level and below which it Is "below regulatory concern" (BRC) or can be considered to contain no more than a diminimus level of radioactivity (i.e . is nonradioactive). 'I1le concept of diminimus limits specific to waste streams and waste forms is introduced. and a mechanism fur evaluating waste In relation to BRC and diminimus limits is outlined. This methodology can be used to perform a complete and adequate characterization of waste for classification according to its level of radioactivity.

Jan 1, 1992

Hazardous waste has often very complicated chemical compositions in a variety of physical forms and is normally processed in rotary kiln incinerators. Due to large variations in waste types and difficulties in feed characterization, the complex transport processes within the incinerator are not well understood, and the incineration process meets challenges in a smooth operation, and expects various uncertainties in the process chemistry and emission control. For better understanding of the incineration process, simulation was carried out by using Computational Fluid-dynamics (CFD) to characterize temperature and species distribution in the incinerator. In order to catch certain aspects of thermal and chemical behavior, a novel approach is proposed to represent approximately the waste streams and the subsequent combustion process. Hazardous waste in various forms from an industrial-rotary-kiln waste incinerator is firstly converted to a hydrocarbon-based virtual fuel mixture with approximately the same HIC molar ratio and calorific value. The simulation of the combustion process of the simplified hazardous waste was proceeded with a combustion model. The distribution of temperature and chemical species especially the remaining CO in the system is preliminarily investigated. Distribution of CO concentration, as a good indicator of emission level for the incineration process, could be used to evaluate the emission control. The predicted temperature distribution has been compared with available measurement data from an operating rotary kiln waste incinerator at AVR-Chieme, in the Netherlands. Reasonable agreement has been reached between the measured and predicted temperature data. In the next step, measurement of species distribution in the system is planned to further validate the combustion model.

Jan 1, 2003

By Joseph Goodwill

1. PURPOSE The objective of this paper is to summarize a study undertaken by the EPRI Center for Metals Production (CMP). The overall purpose of the study was to identify electrolytic opportunities that might merit consideration for joint development by industry and EPRI. 2. SCOPE The electrolytic technologies of interest to this study include: Electrorefining, Electrowinning, and Fused-salt electrolysis. Recovery from primary, secondary, and waste materials were included in this effort; however, we excluded from consideration: Plating and coating operations, such as electrogalvanizing; Mining and milling operations in which electric energy is predominantly used for comminution; Electrothermal processes in which submerged-arc, open electric-arc, and plasma-based smelting processes use electric energy largely to provide a melting or refining ("heating") capability; and Aluminum electrotechnologies since these were the subject of a separate study (CMP 86-2). We recognize that there may be some "gray areas" between these excluded areas and the electrolytic sectors of interest. For this reason, a secondary criterium was used, namely, if the major use of electric energy was to extract or refine the

Jan 1, 1990

By Ramana G. Reddy

Thermodynamic modeling and experimental study on impurity capacities and their distribution between mattes or metal and slags in smelting, converting and refining of non-ferrous metals was discussed. A brief review on the recent developments in copper smelting and converting is presented. The analysis showed that, copper smelting capacity increased by a factor of 10 since 60's, smelting rate increased by a factor of more than 5 and process fuel equivalent decreased by a factor of 2. A thermodynamic model for prediction of impurities capacities in slags and their distribution in mattes and slags was developed. The impurities capacities (i.e. sulfur and arsenic) of slags were calculated a priori with no adjustable parameters using the Reddy-Blander model. The capacities predictions were made in a wide range of matte and slag compositions, PSo, and temperatures in conditions pertaining to copper and lead industrial slags. The calculated results for sulfide and arsenate capacities are in good agreement with the available experimental and industrial copper and lead industrial slags data. The sulfide and arsenate capacities in copper slags (fayalite, ferrite and olivine) and lead slags are reviewed. The application of RB model predicted ratios of O2 and S2 partial pressures in industrial copper smelting processes are discussed. Application of this model for the prediction of Sb, Bi and other impurity capacities and their distribution ratios in mattes or metal and slags, in industrial smelting and refining processes is discussed.

Jan 1, 2003

By Ramana G. Reddy

Thermodynamic modeling and experimental study on impurity capacities and their distribution between mattes or metal and slags in smelting, converting and refining of non-ferrous metals was discussed. A brief review on the recent developments in copper smelting and converting is presented. The analysis showed that, copper smelting capacity increased by a factor of 10 since 60's, smelting rate increased by a factor of more than 5 and process fuel equivalent decreased by a factor of 2. A thermodynamic model for prediction of impurities capacities in slags and their distribution in mattes and slags was developed. The impurities capacities (i.e. sulfur and arsenic) of slags were calculated a priori with no adjustable parameters using the Reddy-Blander model. The capacities predictions were made in a wide range of matte and slag compositions, Pso, and temperatures in conditions pertaining to copper and lead industrial slags. The calculated results for sulfide and arsenate capacities are in good agreement with the available experimental and industrial copper and lead industrial slags data. The sulfide and arsenate capacities in copper slags (fayalite, ferrite and olivine) and lead slags are reviewed. The application of RB model predicted ratios of 02 and S2 partial pressures in industrial copper smelting processes are discussed. Application of this model for the prediction of Sb, Bi and other impurity capacities and their distribution ratios in mattes or metal and slags, in industrial smelting and refining processes is discussed.

Jan 1, 2003