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By Riyad N. Ahmad-Bita, Shadia J. Ikhmayies

"SnO2:F/CdS:In structures were prepared by the spray pyrolysis technique on glass substrates at a substrate temperature Ts = 450°C. NH4F and HF were both tried as the sources of fluorine in the precursor solution of SnO2:F. A comparison between the properties of structures obtained by using the two doping compounds was performed. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmittance measurements were used to characterize the films. The structures prepared by using HF as a fluorine source were found to have more ordered crystal growth, larger grain size and sharper absorption edge. From the inspection of the first derivative of the absorbance it is expected that more interdiffusion on the SnO2:F/CdS:In interface takes place in the structures made by using HF. These results confirm that these films are better as forecontacts for CdS/CdTe solar cells.IntroductionThin film CdS/CdTe solar cells built in the superstrate geometry rely on transparent conducting oxides (TCOs) to make the front contact The investigation of combined CdS-TCO films has recently been developed owing to the great interest of better understanding the effect of these bilayers on the absorbers [1]. Usually SnO2 is utilized as a front contact for these solar cells. Optimizing the properties of the SnO2/CdS structures is an important step on the way to get high performance CdS/CdTe solar cells.There are different methods to prepare SnOz thin films, such as reactive sputtering [2], evaporation [3], chemical vapour deposition [3, 4], dip coating [5] and spray pyrolysis [6-9]. At the same time CdS thin films can be prepared by different techniques such as chemical bath deposition [10], thermal evaporation [11], screen printing [12] and spray pyrolysis [7, 13]. However, the spray pyrolysis technique is a very low cost and simple technique that enables intentional doping and getting large area and uniform thin films [14]. For these reasons it is choused to prepare SnOz and CdS thin films in this work. To improve the properties of these compound semiconductors, SnOz was doped with fluorine and CdS was doped with indium where such doping is well known for these compounds."

Jan 1, 2012

By Shadia J. Ikhmayies

"Nanocrystalline fluorine doped tin oxide (Sn02:F) thin films were produced by the spray pyrolysis technique (SP) on glass substrates at a substrate temperature T, = 450 ° C. The hydrated stannous chloride (SnClz.2H20) was used as a precursor and ammonium fluoride (NH4F) and hydrofluoric acid (HF) were used as the doping compounds. A comparison between the compositional, morphological and optical properties of the films obtained by using the two doping compounds was performed by using scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations, energy dispersive spectroscopy by X-rays (EDAX) and transmittance measurements. It is found that the films prepared by using HF have larger grain size, and higher fluorine content than the films prepared by using ~- In addition these films have higher transmittance and higher direct optical bandgap energy. These results are interesting for the use of Sn02:F as a forecontact in CdS/CdTe solar cells.IntroductionTin dioxide is an n-type, wide bandgap semiconductor (about 3.5 eV) and in the form of thin films, it is a transparent conducting material, characterized by high optical transmission (80- 90%) [l]. Sn02:F is the most widely used transparent-conducting oxide material. The transparent-conducting thin films of this oxide are used as electrodes in a variety of optoelectronic devices, as heat mirror coatings in 'smart windows' for buildings, in automobile and airplane windshields, in incandescent light bulbs, in flat-plate and concentrating solar collectors. Tin oxide and zinc oxide, in thin film configuration are technologically important materials because of their applications in photovoltaic cells [2].Among various dopants for Sn02, fluorine is often preferred, because fluorine doping results in films with high transparency and good conductivity [3]. By exploring the literatures, it was found that different sources of fluorine were used to produce Sn02:F thin fihns, among which are ammonium fluoride (NH4F) and hydrofluoric acid (HF) are the most used. Some researchers used~ [2, 4-7] and others used HF [3, 6-8] for doping Sn02 films. Gordillo et al.[7] used both of NH4F and HF and showed that the resistivity of thin films obtained by using HF was lower than that of similar films obtained by using NH4F by a factor of 2.2. They also found that the films obtained by using HF have more random orientations."

Jan 1, 2013

A rotating-discelectrode system was used to evaluate the electrochemical behaviour of Eu(III) during its reduction in NaCl solutions. The solution pH and NaCl concentration have a great effect on the reduction kinetics. The thermodynamic modelling study also revealed that Eu(III) exists in various forms in NaCl solutions. At a low concentration of NaCl, the predominant species is the free Eu3+. Other Eu-chloro complexes become more predominant when the NaCl concentration increases.

Jan 1, 1992

By G. Achurra

The products of the smelting of copper concentrates in an El Teniente Converter (CT) are a high grade matte, analyzing 74-76% Cu; and a highly oxidized slag, typically containing 15-20% Fe3O4 and 4-10% Cu. The El Teniente Division of CODELCO¬CHILE has developed a slag reduction-cleaning process, that is practised in a tilting, horizontal furnace, to recover copper from these slags. The El Teniente slag cleaning process has been successfully implemented at the El Teniente Caletones smelter and various other smelters in Chile: Today, eight such slag cleaning furnaces, each with a capacity of 800-1000 tonnes/day, are in operation in Chile. This paper discusses basic laboratory research and industrial tests that led to substantial reductions in the slag cleaning cycle time and the specific consumption of fuel and reductants. Simultaneously, the slag cleaning off-gas quality was improved. Based on the experimental results, recommendations were made to improve the practice of the El Teniente slag cleaning process. The recommended modifications have been fully implemented at the Caletones smelter.

Jan 1, 1999

By Anita E. Lam

The thiosulfate leaching of gold generally requires the presence of a catalyst such as cupric tetraammine, Cu(NH3)42+, to obtain reasonable leaching rates and gold extractions. Unfortunately, this same catalyst that accelerates gold leaching also tends to accelerate thiosulfate oxidation to tetrathionate and other species. It is therefore imperative that a detailed understanding of the role of this catalyst and the factors affecting it is obtained. It is equally important for plant application that a method of assessing the catalyst be developed. In this work the role of the cupric tetraammine catalyst was studied using geochemical modeling for speciation prediction, thiosulfate leaching of gold ores, and chemical analyses of resulting leach solutions. It was found that the variables of pH, temperature, and the concentrations of ammonia, thiosulfate, and total copper all work in concert to affect the concentration of the cupric tetraammine species. It was also found that the presence of sufficient thiosulfate and cupric tetraammine was critical to the success of the leach.

Jan 1, 2003

Iron(II), sulphur dioxide and sugars such as lactose are potential reducing agents for manganese dioxide to produce manganese(II) for subsequent hydrometallurgical treatment. The leaching of limonitic laterite and manganiferrous ores with sulphur dioxide produces iron(II) which in turn can catalyse the leaching of manganese dioxide in acid media. This paper presents a critical analysis of the kinetics of reductive dissolution of synthetic manganese dioxide and manganese ore to compare and contrast the effect of sulphur dioxide and iron(II) in acid media containing sulphate or perchlorate anions. Both one-electron and two-electron mechanisms are considered in the case of sulphur dioxide. The current knowledge on chemical speciation is used to construct an Eh-pH diagram to show the effect of complexation of Mn(II), Fe(II) and Fe(III) with sulphate. Heterogeneous and electrochemical reaction kinetic models are combined to propose reaction mechanisms which rationalize the dissolution kinetics.

Jan 1, 2003

By Lee Fergusson

"The primary features of ViroMine™ Technology are introduced and applications of ViroMine™ Technology to mine site remediation and the treatment of a variety of intractable waste-streams, including a technical discussion of acid neutralizing capacity, metals binding capacity and longterm stability of results. Outcomes from four applications at high-profile international mine sites are presented: 1) the superfund site at the Gilt Edge Mine, South Dakota, USA (four years of data on the treatment of acidity, TDS and metals such as Al, Co, Fe, Mn and Zn); 2) one of Australia’s most polluted sites at King River Delta in Tasmania (treatment of TAA and TPA, and metal and metalloid contaminants such as As, Cr and Hg); 3) The Aljustrel “Aqua Forte” mine site in Portugal (high acidity, metal and metalloid contaminants such as Al, As, Cu and Zn) and 4) the Ulsan Iron Ore Mine at Ulsan, South Korea (treatment of metal and metalloid contaminants such as As, Cd and Ni).IntroductionThe commercialisation of ViroMine™ Technology has resolved some of the most intractable pollution issues associated with historic mining ventures on a global scale and has facilitated the neutralisation of Acid Rock Drainage (ARD), remediation of acidic and metal contaminated impoundments (including tailings dams) and promoted revegetation on tailings deposits and waste rock dumps. ViroMine™ Technology also enables current mining ventures to manage effluent simply and efficiently to meet increasingly stringent environmental standards and is enabling the mining sector to reconceptualise the management of mine spoil. The abilities of ViroMine™ reagents to neutralise the actual and potential acidity of sulphidic mine spoil coupled with the ability to bind metal and metalloid contaminants into non-bio-available forms are the key features delivering environmental and economic benefits to the mining sector and the broader community. Results from four projects utilising ViroMine™ Technology are presented to highlight the suitability of ViroMine™ Technology to treat all forms sulphidic mining wastes. 37"

Jan 1, 2008

By Tong Deng

Clean processing of copper converter slags for reclaiming cobalt and copper could be a challenge. An innovative and environmentally benign approach for recovering metal values from such a slag was developed in the present work. Curing the slag with sulfuric acid, without re-smelting or roasting as currently practiced in the industry, made it amenable to leaching, and more than 95% of the cobalt and up to 90% of the copper was extracted, together with iron, by water leaching, leaving silica behind in a residue. Copper in the leach liquor was recovered by cementation with iron, and the dissolved iron crystallized as ferrous sulfate monohydrate. Cobalt in the pregnant solution rich in iron was recovered by either cementation or sulfide precipitation. Chemical and mineralogical characterization of the slag and its products were examined and compared to determine the nature of the changes occurring during curing and leaching. Operating variables were also investigated and optimized.

Jan 1, 2003

By Ray D. Peterson, Garry G. Blagg

"Molten aluminum is routinely transported hundreds of miles to customers in large ""over-the-road"" crucibles. This is especially common for aluminum recycling organizations handling scrap and by-products. Receiving the aluminum in a molten form can save the customer time and money since in-house melting costs and capital equipment can be avoided. Additionally, the alloy can be on specification and nearly ready to use for the casting operation.A number of transport crucible designs are currently in use. The specifics of each design are based on the needs of the customer, the equipment used at both the producer and the consumer, and over-the-road transportation constraints. Crucibles are designed to maximize carrying capacity, and refractory life while minimizing heat flow and dead weight. These conflicting demands place difficult design criteria on the design engineer.This paper will review the basic advantages and disadvantages associated with molten metal transport, give examples of the design restrictions and examine several types design of crucibles currently in use."

Jan 1, 2000

By K.H. Song, H.T. Son, H.S. Kim, W.Y. Kim

In order to evaluate the grain refining and mechanical properties due to severe plastic deformation (SPD), this wrok was carried out. Convential rolling (CR) and cross roll rolling (CRR) as a SPD method were introduced, and NI-20Cr alloy as an experimental material was chosen. The materials were cold rolledto 90% in thickness reduction ans subsequently annealed at 700oC for 30 min to obtain the fully recrystallized microstructure. For annealed materials after cold rolling, electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD) analysis was carried out to investigate the grain boundary characteristic distributions (GBCDs). CRR process was more effective to develope the grain refinement relative to CR process, as a result, grain size was refined from 70 um in initial material to 4.2 um (CR) and 2.4 um (CRR), respectively. These grain refinements directly affect the mechanical properties improvement, in which microhardness and yield and tensile strengths were significantly increased than those of initial meterial.

Jan 1, 2012

By M. Wu, A. Kharicha, J. Bohacek, A. Ludwig

"During the horizontal spin casting of rolls, vibrations and mould deformations seems to have a significant effect on the final quality of the product. Sources for vibrations can be found in the poor roundness and a static imbalance of the chill itself. The bending of the mould axis is also considered. Both, vibrations and axis bending, are used as an input for CFD simulations of the flow dynamics of the liquid metal inside the rotating cylinder. The aim is to study the feedback of the free surface behavior in terms of wave propagation and various wave shapes. Introduction The horizontal spin casting process (HSC) is a casting process that has several advantages over the traditional gravity casting processes. Centrifugally cast products have a high degree of metallurgical purity and homogeneous microstructure. A significant gain is observed for the rupture strength, the rupture strain, and the Young modulus. These properties naturally depend on the centrifugal force and thus, the best mechanical properties can be found at the largest distance from axis of rotation. However proper selection of the angular frequency has to be done in order to prevent the so-called ""metal rain"" i.e. metal droplets can fall down from the upper part of the cylinder due to a too weak centrifugal acceleration. In the same time excessive speeds can lead to the appearance of longitudinal cracks caused by the hoop stress in the initially solidified layer. From empirical knowledge other parameters have important influence on the casting products, it includes the pouring temperature, the pouring rate, the mould coating etc. Recently the presence of natural or forced vibrations have been identified as possible additional factors to be taken into account [1-2]."

Jan 1, 2012

By K. P. Nishad

The origin of many casting defects can be traced at the mold filling stage. Entrapped air/gas pockets and oxide film formation are notable examples. In the present work, the mold-filling process is simulated using a mathematical model, built on a multi-physics based commercial package PHYSICA. The simulation code has the capability to solve multi-phase problems. The numerical model addresses a complicated dynamics of filling operation including free surface flow and subsequent flow behavior and is based on conservation of mass and momentum. The Free surface is modeled using the scalar equation method (SEM). The model is validated with benchmark experimental results from the literature. The role of turbulence and the pouring rate on variables affecting sites prone to oxide film formation are investigated using a simple but novel technique. Key findings of the work are presented.

Jan 1, 2006

By Romeo U. Pagador

After privatization in 1999, PASAR Corporation initiated a plant modernization program to optimize the performance of the smelter by increasing plant availability. This initiative required operational adjustments to the converting and anode furnace procedures, to support the higher throughput in the flash furnace, while continuing to meet government environmental regulations. The major shift in production direction was to eliminate the 30-35 day maintenance shutdown every two years, and replace it with a 15-day shutdown. This paper discusses the changes implemented in the converter and anode operation that have resulted in an increase of 10% in flash furnace throughput, an 18% increase in blister output, to 170 tonnes per cycle, and a converter campaign tonnage increase of 10%. Since privatization, PASAR has instituted a series of ?management of change? programs that have facilitated an industrial cultural change needed to achieve the company?s vision, mission and strategic goals.

Jan 1, 2005

By Hee Dong Jang, Hong Yong Sohn, Miguel Olivas-Martinez

"Tetramethylorthosilicate (TMOS), a precursor of silica nanoparticles, is prepared from the waste silicon sludge, followed by the synthesis of silica nanoparticles from the TMOS by flame spray pyrolysis. A two-dimensional multiphase computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model for the flame spray pyrolysis process (FSP) for the synthesis of silica nanoparticles has been developed. The model incorporates the governing turbulent equations of overall continuity, momentum, energy and species mass transport to represent the gas phase and the population balance model (PBM) to account for the silica nanoparticles. The model has been validated with experimental data in terms of gas temperature and average particle size. Introduction Silica (SiO2) nanoparticles are used in various industrial applications, such as catalyst, pigments, thin film substrates, electronic and thermal insulators, and humidity sensors [1]. They are also used as additives in plastics and rubbers to improve the mechanical properties of elastomers, and in liquid systems to improve their suspension behavior. These applications rely on the particle morphology, average particle size, particle size distribution, and phase composition [2]. Silica nanoparticles can be synthesized by wet chemical processes such as sol-gel methods and high-temperature processes such as flame spray pyrolysis (FSP). The FSP process provides a unique control of particle size and crystalline structure and it can also produce high-purity, thermally stable particles continuously with minimal further treatments. The sizes of the flame- made particles range from a few to several hundred nanometers, depending on the operating conditions [1]. The synthesis of silica nanoparticles from organic compounds that contain silicon by the FSP process is of interest because it generates no harmful by-products [1, 3]. Several compounds such as tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) and tetramethylorthosilicate (TMOS) can be used to synthesize silica nanoparticles, but most such compounds are expensive. Thus, it is desirable to prepare the precursor compounds from waste materials. In the present study, TEOS and TMOS synthesized from silicon sludge were used as precursors of silica nanoparticles [4]."

Jan 1, 2008

By Jin-Chun Kim

Nanosized W based powders (W, WC, WC-Co) were produced by chemical vapor condensation (CVC) process. Two different solid W(CO)6 and Co2(CO)8 metal-organic materials were used as precursors. CVC experiment was conducted in the temperature range of 400-1100. As-CVC WC1-x powder which had non-stoichiometric composition was carburized by using of the CH4-H2 mixed gas in temperature range of 750-850. The CVC W and WC1-x powders showed loosely agglomeration structure, and the Co powder had intricate long stand structure because of intrinsic magnetic properties of Co phase. Carbon content of the CVC powders controlled by gas-phase carburization was well matched with theoretical WC stoichiometry (6.13wt%).

Jan 1, 2006

By Hector M. Henao

In order to provide the thermochemical data regarding the slag system, which are of importance for sulfide smelting and metallurgical processes but still lacking, an experimental study was carried out on the phase relations and activity of iron oxide in the FeOX-CaO-SiO2 system at temperatures between 1300 and 1400 °C and partial pressures of oxygen between 10-9 and 10-4atm. First, the solubility of CaO and SiO2 in the solid FeO were obtained and the tie lines connecting between the solid wustite (FeO) or magnetite (Fe3O4) phase and the liquid phase were determined. Secondly, iso-activity lines for FeO in the homogeneous liquid region were determined, based on the activity of iron in the Pt-crucible used in the equilibrium experiments. The activity coefficient of FeO in this region was also derived from the composition of FeO and FeO1.5 in the liquid region. Finally, the effect of (CaO/SiO2) ratio in the system and partial pressure of oxygen on these thermochemical quantities is discussed.

Jan 1, 2006

By Hong Yong Sohn

On the occasion of this symposium in my name, I reflect upon the contributions of my academic mentors and early associates who helped shape my professional career. I was fortunate to have these people around me during my graduate work and at the start of my professional career. In forming my view of the technical field and career, they represented academia, research institutions, industry, and different parts of the world.

Jan 1, 2006

By Henry Salomon-De-Friedberg

Quebrada Blanca has had to overcome numerous challenges in achieving design throughput. The paper reviews how actual practice has evolved from the original design. The major challenges that were encountered from heap leaching to solvent extraction, the tankfarm and through to electro winning are discussed. The eventual solutions to some of the key issues are presented.

Jan 1, 1999

By Marcel Sturzenegger

Though the extraction of copper is well established, generation of sulfur dioxide (S02) is still a troublesome issue. Conventional processes are further challenged by the increasing amount of impurities in the concentrates. Direct decomposition of the metal sulfides into the metal(s) and elemental sulfur under concentrated solar radiation offers a promising path to solve both problems. Thermogravimetric measurements under inert atmospheres have shown that synthetic chalcocite or chalcopyrite yield copper at temperatures as low as 1773 K. Even though optimum reaction temperatures might be somewhat higher, such temperatures are straightforwardly accessible in solar chemical reactors. The absence of oxygen will reduce the extent of slag forming reactions and thereby alter the evaporation characteristics of volatile impurities such as arsenic or antimony. Chemical equilibrium calculations for a chalcopyrite-enargite feed, e.g., have shown that under inert atmospheres arsenic compounds are completely evaporated at temperatures above 1000 K and an effective separation of arsenic from the matte is expected. An important step towards a solar production of copper is the design and testing of prototype solar chemical reactors for this reaction. Numerical modeling is a key tool supporting a rational design but it requires data of the high-temperature properties that prevail in these processes. Development of techniques for determining the essential quantities such as decomposition rates or radiative properties at temperatures up to 2000 K is therefore a main activity in our laboratory in order to control and optimize the process. Though developed in the frame of high-temperature solar technology, the experimental techniques are also suited to advance the understanding of conventional high-temperature processes. Keywords: Solar technology, Sulfur dioxide, Solar Radiation, Thermogravimetry, Chalcocite, Chalcopyrite, Numerical modeling.

Jan 1, 2003

By Majid Sarkari, Hossein Atashi, Farhad Fazlollahi

"The aim of this research work was to prepare the efficient catalyst to purify pollutant output gases such as SO2 , NO2 and CO. This catalyst, lanthanum cobaltat (LaCo03) was prepared by the proper method in the analysis laboratory of Tabriz Oil .The first materials were chosen through calcination operation and temperatures of operation related to the Tamman temperature, therefore the basis for the first material of catalyst was nitrate and aqueous and since we had no availability to lanthanum nitrate, lanthanum oxide was used to prepare the nitrate one. Before all else, the first materials of catalyst were mixed together with the equal mole proportions and then, at the lower and upper temperatures of Tanunan temperature, calcination operation was carried out. To determine the molecular structure, the XRD analysis was utilized and specified that prepared lanthanum cobaltat was sixth aqueous and had the crystal structure type Triclinic.IntroductionLaCo03 has presented a vast interest because of its special electrical, magnetic and catalytic properties [1-4]. The catalyst LaCo03 can be prepared by means of several methods such as spray drying, freeze drying and also co-precipitation [5-12]. Some methods including hydrothermal, sol gel and citrate [13] This material usually has been synthesized by ceramic method and certainly the high temperature for the calcination operation. [14]. Lanthanum catalysts have been researched because of having such an active state [15]. One of the unique properties of this catalyst is the simultaneous conversion of pollutant elements. Nowadays CO oxidation has important applications in environment protection, such as indoor air cleaning and automotive exhaust treatment. LaCoO3 is one of the most important catalysts for CO oxidation."

Jan 1, 2013