High temperature metals recovery

Splash condenser dross residue. The treatment of steel production pollution control sludge generates a zinc-laden residue, called dross. This material, generated from a splash condenser in a high-temperature metal recovery process, is known as a splash condenser dross residue. Because this material contains 50 to 60% zinc, it is often reclaimed, reused, or processed as a valuable recyclable material. Facilities commonly handle this material as a valuable commodity by managing it in a way that is protective of human health and the environment, so U.S. EPA excluded this residue from the definition of solid waste. 

INMETCO s High Temperature Metals Recovery process reclaims the nickel, chromium, iron, molybdenum and cobalt fi om the secondary wastes indicated above and produces a remelt alloy in cast pig form, weighing 25-30 pounds. The remelt alloy is shipped to most of the stainless steel manufacturers in the United States, as well as certain other international companies, for use as raw material feedstock in the production of more stainless steel. As an ISO 9002 certified facility, INMETCO, a fully permitted facility, is the only High Temperature Metals Recovery facility in North America dedicated to the recovery of nickel, chromium, iron and molybdenum from both hazardous and non-hazardous wastes. 

High Temperature Metals Recovery process consists of four basic steps (1) feed preparation, (2) reduction, (3) smelting, and (4) casting. 

Kraft pulping chemical recovery consists of passage of black liquor along with the slurry passes through evaporators, recovery boilers, and causticizers to eventually produce white liquor. Corrosion on the fireside of the recovery boiler is accelerated by the presence of reduced sulfur species. The hydroxide mixtures present in black liquor are extremely corrosive to the recovery boilers made of type 304 stainless steel (37). Several phenomena in the recovery section cause different forms of corrosion such as (i) corrosion under ash build-up (ii) corrosion in the thin condensation layers and (iii) high-temperature metal/gas interactions. 

Pyrometallurgical Processes Such high temperature processes convert certain minerals into others for easier separation from gangue or for easier recovery of metal. They are accomplished in Idlns, hearth furnaces or fluidized bed reactors. 

At present, leaching is one of the most essential front-end operations in hydrometallurgy, but in future hydrometallurgical processes for secondary metal recovery, treatment of low grade and complex ores, and research and development into high-temperature and high-pressure processes will become increasingly important. 

Reactions carried out on the surface of inorganic oxides allow convenient high-yield and selective syntheses of various metal carbonyl complexes and clusters, starting from easily available materials (Tables 16.1-16.3). The synthetic procedures are straightforward and the recovery of products is easy. Since the use of a solid as reaction medium is not Umited in the manner in solution by boiling points and by the thermal instabiUty of some solvents, it is possible to work at atmospheric pressure even at rather high temperatures. Therefore, in many cases, yields and pressure are better and lower, respectively, than those of the traditional syntheses in solution (Tables 16.4—16.6). 

Plutonium is cast into small ingots by arc melting. All melting operations must be carried out in vacuum or in an inert atmosphere to prevent any air oxidation at high temperatures. Also, being a reactive metal, its recovery and purification should be done in crucibles made of highly refractory and stable materials. 

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