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By Yoshio Nakano

Keywords: Tannin gel, Palladium, Separation, Redox We have developed the novel recovery system of palladium from wastes, which is simple and generates little secondary waste in comparison with the conventional recovery processes, using tannin gel particles synthesized from condensed-tannin molecules. Pd is adsorbed onto the tannin gel particles through inner-sphere redox reaction mechanism: two-electron transfer from tannin gel to Pd(II) species, accompanied by ligand exchange between chloropalladium(II) complexes and tannin molecules. In addition, we propose the separation system of Pd and Au from Pd-Au mixture, which is feasible due to the difference in oxidization and reduction potential between Pd and Au species: PdCl3(H2O)? and PdCl42? are less adsorbable than Pd species containing fewer Cl, such as PdCl2(H2O)2 and PdCl (H2O)3+, while such a distinct difference between Au species is not observed.

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 Seong- Rin Lim

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are regarded as environmentally friendly light sources due to their high energy efficiency and lack of mercury content. LEDs are used for a variety of domestic and commercial lighting systems, where they are replacing incandescent and fluorescent lamps at a rapid rate. Incandescent lamps inefficiently consume energy because electricity is mostly converted to heat rather than light. This causes unnecessary environmental impacts and energy consumption associated with power generation and transmission from a life cycle perspective. Although fluorescent lamps are more energy-efficient than incandescent lamps, their disposal at end-of-life presents special challenges because of the presence of toxic mercury. Despite the seemingly apparent advantages of LED, very few studies have rigorously addressed potential environmental consequences of their disposal. Specifically, LEDs are designed with III-V semiconductors that presumably consist of toxic and rare materials, including arsenic, gallium, and indium. We hypothesize that, depending on their concentrations and leachability, these constituents may also contribute to render LEDs as hazardous waste at the end of their useful life.

Jan 1, 2010

By Sergio Neves Monteiro

In the present work, a ceramic foam elaborated with illitic clays was characterized. Properties related to density and compression strength were determined in samples fired at 1300oC, a temperature that permits the clay structure to generate and retain gases that will produce the foamy structure. The microstructure of the ceramic foam was studied by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and mercury porosimetry. The results showed that the ceramic foam presents a bulk density of 0.38 g/cm3. The microstructure is formed by large open pores, quartz particles and vitreous phase.

Jan 1, 2006

By W. M. Cross

Bubble attachment time measurements for the rare-earth phosphate minerals monazite and xenotime were made as a function of oleate concentration, sodium fluoride addition, and temperature. Results indicate that the rare-earth phosphates behave similarly to other phosphate minerals, notably collophanlte and fluorapatite, which have been studied previously. The addition of sodium fluoride yielded a modest decrease in bubble attachment time with fluoride additions below the apparent fluoride surface precipitation point, while at fluoride additions greater than the apparent precipitation point a significant decrease in attachment time occurs. Increasing the temperature or the system gave a slight decrease in bubble attachment time in the absence or sodium fluoride. With sodium fluoride addition and below the apparent fluoride surface precipitation point, an increase in temperature actually increased the attachment time. For sodium fluoride additions above the apparent fluoride surface precipitation point, a temperature increase significantly decreased the attachment time.

Jan 1, 1989

By C. M. F. Vieira

In the county of Campos dos Goytacazes, north of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, there is a large production of red ceramic, mainly perforated bricks. A percentage of these bricks are damaged during the firing processing and become a red ceramic waste. This work investigates a possible solution to this environmental problem through the mixture of fired brick wastes, up to 20 wt.%, with clay bodies to produce red ceramics. Cylindrical pressed bodies were fired at temperatures varying from 500 to 1100ºC. After firing, samples were then tested for linear shrinkage, water absorption and mechanical strength. The results showed that brick waste addition did not changed the workability of the clay and that up to 5 wt.% of waste no detrimental effect occurred on the fired properties at all temperatures.

Jan 1, 2010

By Shadia J. Ikhmayies

The SnO2/CdS/CdTe thin film solar cells were fabricated on glass substrates by using the spray pyrolysis (SP) technique for the deposition of the SnO2 and CdS layers and vacuum evaporation for the CdTe layer. The transmittance curves were used to investigate the interdiffusion in the two interfacial regions SnO2/CdS and CdS/CdTe by taking the first derivative of the absorbance as a function of wavelength. The appearance of new bandgaps around the bandgaps of SnO2:F, CdS:In and CdTe layers is a strong evidence on the interdiffusion in the two interfacial regions and/or the formation of quantum dots.

Jan 1, 2010

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 Jilai Xue

Oxygen gas bubbles generate on anode during Pb electro-deposition process in PbSiF6-H2SiF6 aqueous solutions at room temperature. Cell voltage varies as the bubbles formed on the anodes surface. The bubble layer on the anode makes a voltage drop that consumes energy in the Pb process, which can be reduced by applying ultrasound on the anode. The effects of ultrasound frequency and anodic current density were investigated with ultrasound on and off, alternatively during the Pb electrode-position process. The removing of the gas bubbles were recorded in association with a drop in the cell voltage. The cell voltage can be lowered by 4% - 6% with ultrasound, which has potential for energy saving in Pb production.

Jan 1, 2010

By Oliver Zach

To know as much as possible about the condition of the refractory material (lining thickness, slag layer, build ups, ...) in an high temperature furnace is very important due to the safety and economic impacts. The new CONSCAN system offers the possibility to measure the inner surface of an furnace, and based on this results to calculate the thickness of the refractory lining, slag layer, build ups,.... The CONSCAN System provides this results as figures and graphics. This system is also working under hot conditions so it is not necessary to cool down the furnace. Based on these results the process control and the refractory lining concept could be optimized for maximum campaign life of the furnace.

Jan 1, 2006

By S. J. Thiele, T. Newton, W. Magalhäes, T. Takayama, J. Welsh

Companhia Paraibuna de Metais (CPM) is presently pursuing a zinc production expansion project. Besides increasing production, the goal of the project is to address existing problems while providing a platform for a proposed twofold increase in production in 2003/2004. Therefore, the current expansion strategy was formulated to address present and future requirements. Computer simulation modeling and full scale plant testing are being used to generate data to optimize the operating conditions and to perform a sensitivity analysis. The initial phase of the project, which will boost CPM's capacity to 86,000 t/y of marketable zinc, is to be completed in September 2000.

Jan 1, 2000

By Jinhui Li

Silver is a very important metal used in a wide range of applications. It is necessary to recovery of Ag from electronic wastes for increasing of Ag price and circumstance protection. For separating and recycling Ag from Ag-Cu composite materials, thermodynamic data of reaction is calculated and some experiments have been proceeded with Ag-Cu composite material scraps, time, temperature, nitric-sulfuric mixed acid volume ratio and the volume ration of mixed acid vs. water have been discussed. The results show that the optimization conditions is that nitric-sulfuric mixed acid volume ratio 5:95, volume ratio of mixed acid vs. water 10:1, temperature 55?, time 25min. In the conditions, Ag can be selectively leached from Cu-based composite material, Cu base is not eroded nearly.

Jan 1, 2009

By Elaine Araújo

Since the ancient times, clays were used as decolorant material for various types of oils. These clays were called ?decolorant clay?. They have the property to decolor dye materials present in mineral oils, plants and animals. Biofuel is a fuel derived from biomass of live organisms. As biodiesel is produced from renewable sources, the generation of employment due to industrial scale production may cause a reduction in the dependence on foreign diesel importing, as well as the reduction of air pollution by the addition of biodiesel to diesel. This study aimed to develop a technological process to decolor post- consumption oil to be applied as biofuel. The results were characterized by techniques of XRD (X-ray diffraction), X-ray fluorescence and FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared). It was observed that the post-consumption oils presented a higher decoloration result after treatment with the Brazilian clay.

Jan 1, 2009

By V. Kamavaram

Keywords: Recycling, Aluminum Metal Matrix Composite, Ionic Liquids, BMIC Recycling of aluminum metal matrix composites (MMC) via electrolysis in ionic liquids at near room temperature was investigated. The electrolytic melt comprised of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (BMIC) and anhydrous AlCl3. Impure aluminum composite (Duralcan MMC Al-380, 20 vol % SiC) was electrochemically dissolved at the anode and pure aluminum (>98%) was deposited on a copper cathode. The deposits were characterized by scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffractrometer, and mass spectrometer. The influence of various process parameters such as concentration of electrolyte, and applied cell voltage on the recycling process was studied. The recycling process yielded current densities in the range of 200-500 A/m2, and cathode current efficiency of about 85%. The results indicated that impurities such as Cu, Si, Ni, Fe, Mg, Mn, and SiC particles were removed as anode residue. Energy consumption of about 3.7-6.3 kWh/kg-Al was obtained at a cell voltage of 1.0-2.0 V and cell temperature of 100 ± 5°C. Low energy consumption and no emission of pollutants are the two main advantages of this process compared to present recycling processes.

Jan 1, 2005

By H. Doostmohammadi

During the tapping of liquid steel from Electric Arc Furnace (EAF), some slag is carried over into the ladle. High levels of FeO and MnO in slag carryover increase the oxygen activity in steel melt leading to oxide inclusion formation during the ladle treatment. The demand on cleaner steels requires minimization of carryover slag. In this work, the effect of EAF slag carryover on ladle slag-steel equilibrium calculations for a hot working tool steel was studied. Steel and slag sampling were done in Uddeholm Tooling AB in Sweden. XRF and OES techniques were used to determine chemical composition of samples. The quantity of slag carryover was calculated based on a mass balance followed by thermodynamic calculations on metal-slag equilibrium using Thermo-Calc software. The agreement between predictions and experimentally determined compositions was good. This leads to the development of a prediction method for optimizing the production of other tool steel grades.

Jan 1, 2009

By Adriana Gómez

White dross is a result of the aluminum oxidation during its primary production and is mainly composed of metallic aluminum, Al2O3, with minor amounts of AlN and some other oxides. Because of the great variety of phases, the quantitative characterization is complicated. This work shows a quantitative method to determine the main phases of white aluminum drosses by means of X-ray diffraction (the Rietveld method). Nowadays the Rietveld method is maybe the most useful method for obtaining quantitative phases information in multicomponent mixtures, this method permits relatively quick quantitative phase analysis by fitting the calculated X-ray diffraction profile with the observed one. The analysis were done using powder with a grain size less than 45 µm; to obtain the suitable material size the aluminum dross was grounded by ten minutes, several times. The grounded material was screened, and the material smaller than 45 µm was taken to quantitative XRD analysis. Keywords: Rietveld Method, Characterization, Aluminum dross.

Jan 1, 2005

By Han-Tao Hu

Keywords: RH refining process, flow of molten steel, two-phase flow, gas holdup, circulation rate, mathematical modeling A three-dimensional mathematical model for the flow of the molten steel in the whole degasser during the RH refining process has been proposed and developed with considering the physical characteristics of the process, particularly the behaviors of gas-liquid two-phase flow in the up-snorkel and the momentum exchange between the two phases. The fluid flow fields and the gas holdups of liquid phases and others respectively in a 90 t RH degasser and its water model unit with a 1/5 linear scale have been computed using this model. The results showed that the flow pattern of molten steel in the whole RH degasser could be well modeled by the model. The liquid can be fully mixed during the refining process except the area close to the free surface of liquid and zone between the two snorkels in the ladle, but there is a boundary layer between the descending liquid stream from the down-snorkel and its surrounding liquid, which is a typical liquid-liquid two phase flow, and the molten steel in the ladle is not in a perfect mixing state. The lifting gas blown is rising mostly near the up-snorkel wall, which is more obvious under the conditions of a practical RH degasser, and the flow pattern of the bubbles and liquid in the up-snorkel is closer to an annular flow. The calculated circulation rates for the model unit at different lifting gas rates are in good agreement with the determined values.

Jan 1, 2005

By Susan Jacob

The heat of fusion of silver was measured using high temperature differential scanning calorimetry (HTDSC). Heating rate, sample mass, calibration standard and cover gas flow rate were varied to determine their impact on instrument accuracy and reproducibility. Good reproducibility was achieved in most of the runs. Accuracy was not satisfactory in most of the runs, though three runs gave results within 1.7%, 3.3% and 3.5% of the literature value, within the acceptable limits. A larger mass and higher heating rate tend to generate more accurate results.

Jan 1, 2006

By Jilai Xue

Experiments with various industrial cathodes ranging from 35 wt.% to 100 wt.% graphitic and fully graphitized carbons were carried out in a laboratory aluminum electrolysis cell. Sodium and cryolite bath penetration into the cathode samples was measured by XRD and SEM-EDS analysis. For a higher cryolite ratio in the bath, the cathodes with lower graphitic carbons exhibited more sodium penetration than the fully graphitized. The increased graphitization in the cathode materials can reduce Na, NaF and Na3AlF6 penetration. SEM-EDS inspection reveals that the sodium and fluorides penetration within the cathode samples has different patterns for varying graphitization of the carbon materials. XRD quantitative analysis indicates that there is a large percentage of Na3AlF6 in the penetrated bath. The results can provide useful information for quality evaluation of the industrial cathode products.

Jan 1, 2010

By M. N. H. Khan

CSIRO has been experimenting with supersonic flows as a method of rapidly quenching metallic vapours. Cooling rates above 106 °C/s have been achieved. The supersonic flow conditions are achieved by adiabatic expansion of the vapour through a Laval nozzle into a vacuum chamber. This paper will describe the basic physics of the process, outlining computer fluid dynamic (CFD) modelling of flow in the nozzle, the effects of different flow conditions on the condensation process and discuss the practical design issues associated with operating supersonic nozzles. Results obtained from a CFD model of the nozzle, which compared two methods of incorporating condensation, showed that inclusion of condensation substantially changes the conditions in the nozzle. Most noticeably, the effect of condensation produces a region in the nozzle where the temperature remains almost constant.

Jan 1, 2006