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By Georgette Smits

The gun-sprayed refractory lining of electrothermal furnaces used for the manufacture of carbon disulphide from liquid sulphur and charcoal at between 800 and l000°C are severely attacked during the process. A mineralogical study of samples of eroded refractory material disclosed that carbon disulphide had penetrated the lining, causing the precipitation of sulphides and carbon, and the decomposition of mullite, a major constituent of the lining, to corundum and amorphous silica. Calcium, iron, titanium, and chromium are undesirable cations in a refractory that is used in furnaces for the production of carbon disulphide, since they react readily with this substance. A series of tests, in which samples were exposed to different amounts of carbon disulphide for various residence times and at different temperatures, was carried out with eight types of aluminosilicate-based castable and brick refractory materials, to compare their resistance to attack by carbon disulphide. Mineralogical investigation of the test cores showed that castable refractory materials are unsuitable for this type of process because of the presence of calcium aluminates and other impurities in the cement. Of all the refractories that were tested, a mullite brick of low porosity, containing a minimum amount of impurities, appeared to be the most suitable for use in this type of operation.

Jan 1, 1989

By Baoxiang Zhang, Jing Zhang

"As extruded Mg-9Zn-0.6Zr-2Er magnesium alloys were hot-rolled at 400°C, followed by solution treatment at 400 °c for 1. 5h and artificial aging at 200°C for 10h. Microstructures and tensile mechanical properties of the alloys after hot rolling, solution and aging treatment were examined respectively. Optical micrographs of the as-rolled and as-solution alloys showed fine grain structures, due to the formation of Er-and Zn-bearing compounds at grain boundaries which obviously improved the thermal stability of the alloy. Yield strength as high as about 335 MPa was obtained for the as-rolled alloy, showing that the mechanical properties of the alloy was greatly benefit from the grain refinement and dynamic precipitation of fine MgZn2 during hot rolling. Due to solution heat treatment, vast majority of the Mg-Zn phases dissolved into the matrix, and precipitated out again as fine dispersoid during the subsequent aging, resulting in an enhanced aging-hardening effect.IntroductionWith high specific strength and low density, magnesium alloy has stimulated significant interest for the applications in microelectronics, aerospace and automobile industries. Due to its HCP structure, magnesium alloys exhibit relatively poor strength and ductility. Great efforts have been made to improve the properties of magnesium alloys.Thermo-mechanical processing which combined with subsequent heat treatment can strengthen magnesium alloys due to the strain-hardening mechanism, homogeneous distribution of second particles and grain refinement [1, 2]. However, commercial wrought magnesium alloys have high tendency of grain growth at high temperature due to lack of effective solutions to stabilize the microstructure [3, 4, and 6]. But Magnesium-RE alloys containing high rare earth were reported to have remarkable thermal-stability, Rare earth (RE), such as Y, Nd, Yb, Gd, Ce, were known to form second-phase particles that have higher thermal stability combining with Zn and matrix in Mg[12-17]."

Jan 1, 2012

By Nickolas J. Themelis

Nearly thirty two million tons of municipal solid wastes (MSW) are combusted annually in over one hundred U.S. Waste-to-Energy (WTE) power plants, thus reducing the use of fuel oil by about 1.6 billion gallons of fuel oil One of the advanced WTE processes is the 0.9-million ton/y SEMASS facility at Rochester, Mass. Most of the combustion in the three giant combustion chambers occurs while the injected shredded wastes are in suspension, i.e., in flash combustion mode. The velocity, temperature, and concentration profiles in the SEMASS combustion chamber were simulated by representing the combustible fraction of MSW by the simplified formula C6HIO04 and using the CFD program Fluent to solve the turbulent energy and mass transport equations. After validation against plant data, this model will be used to examine options for increasing the productivity of WTE combustion chambers, such as optimum distribution of primary and secondary air and oxygen enrichment.

Jan 1, 2003

By David J. Howard, Christine Broadbridge, David C. Paine

"High pressure vapor/solid reactions offer an opportunity for novel synthesis and processing of thin film materials and structures for electronic, optical, and magnetic applications. In this paper we review the use of two high pressure techniques that operate from 25 to 1000 atm (2.5 to 100 MPa) to fabricate thin film oxide structures from Si1-xGex deposited on Si wafers. High pressure synthesis enables temperature-independent control of reaction rates in the oxidation of this multicomponent semiconductor system and hence offers the opportunity to form thennodynamically metastable Si1-xGex<h from the alloy. The thermodynamics of the Si-Ge-0 system are reviewed and a method is described that utilizes selective chemical reduction (via H2 gas) of Si1-xGcx<h to form Ge precipitates in an SiO2 matrix. IntroductionAlloys of Si1-xGex grown epitaxially on Si substrates by chemical vapor deposition (CYD) and molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) have been used to create high performance microelectronic devices1. These devices show improved performance over conventional Si technology because they exploit the Si/Si 1-xGex band-gap discontinuity and take advantage of higher hole mobilities in the Ge containing alloys. While a range of devices based on heteroepitaxial systems have been demonstrated, the Si1_xGex alloys are of particular interest because they are most closely compatable with standard Si device processing. One disadvantage of Si-based materials systems is that they are not typically useful emitters of light. This is important since the use of light (rather than electrons) for transmitting and processing signals into, out of, and within Si-based microelectronics would represent a major technological advance in microelectronics-based communication and computer technologies. Nevertheless, through the use of innovative processing techniques it may be possible to use the Si1_xGex/Si heteroepitaxial system in integrated microelectronic/light-wave technologies."

Jan 1, 1994

By R. A. Masumura, C. S. Pande, D. Agassi

"Grain size has a different effects on the critical current density (Jc) of high and low transition temperature (Tc) superconductors. In high Tc superconductors, the critical current density Jc across grain boundaries depends sensitively on the misorientation 8. It was pointed out by Pande that this dependence is directly related to dislocation structure of the grain boundaries i.e., it is due to dislocation cores and stresses. These ideas are developed further in this paper leading to a relation between Jc and 8. The analytical result is compared with the experimental results on bicrystals and used to explain the difference in behavior between high and low Tc superconductors.IntroductionThe grain size distribution and its evolution with time and temperature is important in determining the properties of high and low transition temperature (T c) superconductors. The distribution is a convenient function to characterize the processing of a high Tc material during sintering. For example, it is known that the maximum density of ceramic materials is obtained when the grain growth is reduced but grain boundaries are still mobile. For practical superconductors, the processing parameters are selected to achieve optimum properties: highest possible T c and maximum critical current (Jc). In terms of an average grain size, the requirements for optimum T c and Jc are sometime in conflict. In A15 type superconductors and even in NbTi, larger Jc have been measured in smaller rather than larger grain sized material. Conversely, in a high Tc materials like YBa2Cu307, higher Jc have been found in larger grain sized or single crystal specimens.Extended defects such as grain boundaries in low T c superconductors can be effective pinning agents for magnetic flux lines, thereby increasing the transport critical current density of these materials [1]. On the other hand, the transport critical currents in polycrystals of high Tc superconductors such as YBa2Cu307 is found to be relatively small (much smaller than those in single crystals of the same material) [2]. It is now known that grain boundaries in high Tc polycrystals can in many cases form ""weak links"" reducing the critical current density across them. This phenomenon can be studied more precisely by experiments on bicrystals, where there is only one grain boundary. It is found that the critical current density is quite sensitive to the misorientation angle of the bicrystal [3,4]. Although the original experiments were conducted on YBa2Cu307, other Tc superconductors have been shown to give the same result [5]."

Jan 1, 1994

By R. G. Robins

Metal separations based on the selective precipitation of phosphates have a potential application in many hydrometallurgical processes. This paper reviews the literature on the solubility of a number of both divalent and trivalent metal phosphates and presents the result of some additional experimental measurements. The systems examined have been modelled to obtain free energy of formation data for the various species. Computer generated solubility diagrams which are described can be useful in predicting a variety of metal separations.

Jan 1, 1991

By F. K. Letowski

Leaching in froth is a particular case of a three phase (liquid-solid-gaseous) process which combines flotation with leaching by using a reactive gaseous reagent as a flotation carrier and a leaching solution as the reactive liquid medium to fonn the foam (froth) in&apos; which the solid particles are suspended. Some physico-chemical and engineering aspects of leaching in froth are discussed and illustrated by its application for cleaning the mineral graphite. Leaching of the graphite concentrate containing 4L4% of the elemental carbon and 3.16% of the sulphidic &apos;sulphur was canied out in the froth fonned by: (a) a concentrated chloride solution, with a small addition of nitric acid, in the foam state; (b) a mixture of gaseous O2, NO., and H20 encapsulated in the foam; and (c) notable particles of graphite suspended in the foam. The laboratory experiments werecanied out in a "flotation column"-type reactor ala temperature from 80 to !08°C and under total pressure of 100 to 200kPa. In the 3-stage leaching-flotation process, the non-flotable fraction of particles was separated three times from the notable fraction. The concentration of carbon and elemental sulphur in the final flotable fraction was 96% C and 0.38% S respectively. The expected advantages and possible application in hydrometallurgy are suggested.

Jan 1, 1995

By Xin-liang Gao, Qing Li, Gui-qin Fu, Duo Jin, Miao-yong Zhu

"Optical microscope together with alternative wet-dry cyclic accelerated corrosion tests and XRD, SEM were employed on bridge weathering steel samples with different Mn and Ni contents which were vacuum induction melted and rolled to study their effects on the microstructure and rust layer evolution in er' containing condition. The results show that the microstructure is mainly ferrite and pearlite when Mn and Ni contents are 0.75 %, 0.42 %, respectively. Both the increase of Mn and Ni contents will make pearlite disappear while granular bainite appear, meanwhile the grain size decreases. With the increase of Mn content, the corrosion rate decreases in the initial stage, but the effect becomes little in the later stage. The increase of Ni not only improves the corrosion resistance of steel base at the initial stage but also hinders the tendency of further corrosion. As Mn content increases, a-FeOOH contents in rust layer decreases. With increase of Ni content, the content of a-FeOOH in the rust increases while that ofy-FeOOH decreases.IntroductionWeathering steels had been ~radually applied in manufacture of bridges owing to reducing the corrosion rate remarkably [I- l .Good weldability was needed for high performance bridge weathering steels. Since carbon was thought to be bad for weldability, low carbon content steel was adopted and Mn was added to amend the mechanical strength loss. Some scholars[6, 7l believed that Mn was beneficial for increasing corrosion resistance performance of the steel in marine atmospheric environment. Some scholars [S, 9l thought that Mn had little effect on corrosion resistance in marine atmospheric environment. Presently, the effect of Mn on bridge weathering steel in marine atmospheric environment still remained poorly understood. Ni was considered to be beneficial for increasing corrosion resistance performance in marine atmospheric environment [JO-l4l However, the high cost limited its application range. What would bring to the rust and corrosion by decreasing Ni content needed further research.Most researchers assumed that microstructures only affected the corrosion behavior of bare steel. But the study of Guo et al. P5l showed that the homogenous microstructures were beneficial for the corrosion resistance of steels. The effect of Mn, Ni content change on microstructure and microstructure on corrosion still remained poorly understood. In the present work, the effect of Mn and Ni on the microstructures of steel matrix, as well as the microstructures on the rust and corrosion was investigated."

Jan 1, 2014

By Zhang Qin

Dolomite is main impurity mineral in phosphate ores. In practice of phosphate ores production, the grade of concentrates is only containing P2O5 31-32%.In this study, even the increasing of floatation reagent consumption and decreasing of floatation recovery, economic performance is estimated high according to the decreasing of H2SO4 consumption in subsequent production of phosphate fertilizer and the increasing of products value. In floatation stage, influence factor include the synergism impacts of floatation collector, the stages, time, concentration of ore pulp, which were discussed respectively in this paper. Raw material is characterized by mineralogy, chemical analysis, the grain size analysis and milling test . The results show that the grade of concentration can reach to P2O5 36% by deeply de-magnesium oxide from phosphate ores by floatation , which yield a high added value.

Jan 1, 2009

By P. D. Ferro

The direct oxide reduction (DOR) of plutonium oxide generates significant amounts of contaminated waste. This waste primarily consists of calcium oxide-saturated calcium chloride salt. This investigation explores the possibility of recycling the salt, by the electroreduction of the calcium oxide. Fused salt electrolysis of a simulated salt mix (CaC12 + ~10 wt. pct. CaO) is being carried out to electrowin calcium, and the process is being optimized in terms of the calcium solubility, cell temperature, current density and cell design to maximize the current efficiency. This work identifies the major concerns in the development of a process to electrowin calcium from this simulated salt mix.

Jan 1, 1992

By J. B. Winter

The present Inspiration Consolidated Copper Company Smelter/Acid Plant complex located near Miami, Arizona, was designed and built specifically to conform to the ambient air quality standards imposed by the Federal Clean Air Act of 1971. The present plant replaced a facility which had been in operation since 1915. The electric furnace, siphon converters and acid plant complex were commissioned in May, 1974 (1). At that time, the Plant was considered to be one of the most extensively monitored and instrumented facilities of its kind in the world. Several control areas were located in close proximity to the controlled process, in addition to so-called central control rooms in the Smelter and Acid Plant. The control rooms were staffed with officials below the foreman level. Instrumentation consisted of conventional analog devices, except for a computer used in monitoring ambient air environmental conditions and limited use of programmable logic controllers. The harsh service conditions prevalent in the plant rendered a significant portion of the instrumentation unreliable and, in many cases, inoperable. Failure of the facility to obtain the total sulfur collection for which it was designed was, in part, due to serious inadequacies in control system logic and sulfur recovery averaged 79% in the early years. After careful study of the smelting process, engineering hardware and high labor cost inherent in the organizational structure, management made a judgement decision to convert to centralized control of the process with high level supervision 24 hours per day. A distributed digital control system with supervisory arid data acquisition/information reporting computers was selected to satisfy the requirement of central control. Operations are now controlled and coordinated from a primary control room in the Smelter and a satellite control area in the Acid Plant.

Jan 1, 1983

By Huaming Yang

The vanadium-doped SnO2 nanoparticle was synthesized by the co-precipitation reaction and subsequent calcination from the vanadium(III) chloride and tin(IV) chloride. The crystal size, pore size distribution, micrograph and properties of the nanocrystalline powders were examined by differential thermal analysis (DTA). thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). X-ray diffraction (XRD), desorption isotherm (Barrett-Joyner-Halenda method) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Thermal treatment of the precipitate powder at 600&apos;C led to the formation of crystal0nmincrystal size. Most of the pores in the narmparticle are about 5~15nm in diameter. Effect of doped vanadium on the crystal size of the nanoparticle was discussed.

Jan 1, 2003

By Shengqin Zhang, Jagannath Pal, Yousef Mohassab, Hong Yong Sohn, Mohamed Elzohiery

The kinetics of magnetite reduction with mixtures of hydrogen and CO of various compositions has been investigated as part of the development of a flash ironmaking process at the University of Utah. This new process bypasses the cokemaking and pelletization or sintering steps required for the blast furnace. The particle kinetics were studied using magnetite concentrate particles of different sizes. Reduction degree of 60% was achieved in a few seconds in at 1350 oC using CO reductant alone and over 90% when H2 + CO gas mixture was used. The effects of reductant partial pressures, temperature, and particle size on the reduction kinetics were studied.

Jan 1, 2016

By M. Huang

A conductivity-based sensor for on-line measurement of free acid was recently built. This sensor is suitable for high ionic strength solutions and its corrosion-free operation is based on induction currents. It has been tested against literature data and measurements made using a previous developed contact-type conductivity cell, with an average difference within 1%. The electrical conductivities of H2SO4?H2O, H2SO4?MgSO4?H2O and NaCl?Laterite-H2Osolutions at temperatures up to 250 °C were discussed. It was found that the solution conductivity depends on various factors, such as the electrolyte concentrations, the type of electrolytes, temperature and the amount of dispersions. A semi-empirical model was developed to account for all the factors discussed. This model was further tested on actual process solutions from the hydrometallurgy of nickel where sulphuric acid solutions containing a variety of metal sulphates and solids. The average difference between the estimated acid concentration from this model and the one from titration was generally less than 5%, which is excellent for industrial applications.

Jan 1, 2006

By S. W. Ip

Over the years, the importance of surface and interfacial phenomena has been neglected by the copper-nickel industry. As a result, little data on the surface and interfacial tension of the Ni matte and slag system are available in the literature. In view of the scarcity of information in this area, the surface tensions of the Ni-Fe-S system together with the Ni-Fe-S and fayalite type slag system were measured using the sessile drop technique. Drop images were obtained by X-ray radiography. For the Ni-Fe-S system, the results showed that the surface tension of the matte increases with matte grade. The surface tension behavior with changing matte grade showed a slight negative deviation from ideality. This indicated that FeS is slightly surface active in the nickel matte system. Results also indicated that small increase in sulphur content in the matte can decrease the surface tension quite significantly. The measured surface tension of the Ni-Cu-S system showed a linear relationship with the Cu2S content in the matte. The surface tension decreased with Cu2S content. Interfacial tension measurements showed a similar trend. That is, interfacial tension increased with increasing matte grade. The presence of MgO (-1.5%) and A12O3 (-6%) in the slag does not affect the interfacial tension value. Effects of matte surface tension on phenomena such as entrainment of matte in slag and infiltration of matte into refractory pores are discussed. The calculated flotation coefficients indicated that flotation of nickel mattes cannot be avoided by changing the matte grade. Filming of matte on bubbles can occur below a matte grade of about 19% Ni3S2. As for infiltration, refractory bricks containing high Cr2O3 will be easily wetted by matte regardless of matte grade. Therefore, bricks containing high Cr2O3 can easily be infiltrated by liquid matte.

Jan 1, 1993

By Donald I. Bleiwas

World primary nickel production in 1987 is projected to be 770,000 mt, slightly higher than that in 1986. Market economy country (MEC) production in 1987 is projected to be about 524,000 mt, an increase of almost 5 pct over 1986 production. Production cutbacks and closures at Japanese ferronickel plants in 1987 resulted primarily from the strong yen and higher energy prices. Cutbacks also caused reductions in ore production from Indonesia, New Caledonia, and the Philippines. Technical problems affected production, to varying degrees, in Botswana, Indonesia, and Yugoslavia. World primary nickel production for 1988 is projected to be 787,000 mt, of which 536,000 mt will be produced in MECs. Increased production is projected from Botswana, Canada, Cuba, and possibly Greece and Yugoslavia, while slight production decreases are projected for Indonesia, New Caledonia, the Philippines, and Zimbabwe. .. South African nickel production in 1988 could be severly curtailed by social strife. In the early 1990&apos;s Brazil and China could be major economic competitors to Western nickel producers.

Jan 1, 1988

By Jesús Contreras

Since the commencement of its activities in Huelva in 1970, Atlantic Copper has maintained a course of action that has been more demanding than the successive environmental legislations current at different times. As its primary objective it has sought compatibility between the protection of the environment and both its industrial activity and the social and economic development of the area in which its Metallurgical Complex is located. For this reason, since the seventies it has maintained a continuous programme of investments which have allowed it to attain its present environmental situation. As a consequence of the Environmental Policy of Atlantic Copper, in April 1998 it obtained certification for its Integrated System of Environmental Management (SIGMA) according to international standard IS0-14001, and under European Community Regulation 1836/93 (replaced by the 76112001) for the Eco-Management and Eco-Audit System (EMAS). The SIGMA formalises the environmental management practices of Atlantic Copper and engages it to have available a system that can be fully audited. Atlantic Copper was the first European Company in the non-ferrous metallurgical sector to obtain both the UNE-EN-ISO 14001 certification and the EMAS registration. The present paper reviews the actions by Atlantic Copper in environmental matters that have allowed it to achieve its present position. It also describes the coming stages of improvement planned and the modifications to be carried out in the near future, in particular the criteria for the selection of technologies on the basis of the concept of BAT (Best Available Techniques) introduced by the European Union, and always guided by the final objective of converting Atlantic Copper into a reference within the sector, comparable to the best designed and operated installations in the world.

Jan 1, 2003

By R. Dekkers

Non-metallic inclusions in liquid steel are mainly formed during killing. As far as these particles are not captured by the slag, they are found in the cast steel where they can deteriorate the mechanical properties. Inclusions may also disrupt the continuous casting process, affecting thus directly the quality of the steel and the production capacity. Steel pin samples from the Sidmar plant (Belgium) were taken in different steps of several ladle treatments and in the tundish. Also slab samples were studied. All samples concern the same type of low alloyed aluminium killed steel. The non-metallic inclusions were isolated from the steel matrix and investigated with scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectrometry. The evolution of the non-metallic inclusions is described by their number, size, shape and elemental composition. The main non-metallic inclusions present are aluminium oxides and spinel type compounds.

Jan 1, 1999

By Kimio Itagaki

"As a contribution to understand the smelting of copper or nickel matte by blowing oxygen or oxygen-enriched air, the phase equilibrium and the distribution of minor elements between the iron-silicate based slag and the Cu2S-FeS or Ni3S2-FeS matte at 1573K were investigated in a magnesia crucible under controlled partial pressures of SO2 at 0.1, 0.5 and 1.atm. At a given matte grade, the solubility of copper in the slag was found to be independent of p5O2 while that of nickel was dependent on pSO2 and these behaviors were analysed thermodynainically based on a concept of oxidic and sulfidic dissolution of the components in the slag. When the matte grade was specified, the distribution ratios of X, defined as (wt pct X in slag)/(wt pct X in matte}, for As, Sb and Bi increased with increasing p5O2 while that for Ag was constant against p5O2.IntroductionA combination of intensive reactors with the use of oxygen or oxygen-.enriched air as the blowing gas has provided a number of improved copper and nickel smelting processes such as INCO-Flash, Outokumpu-Flash, Mitsubishi-Continuous and IBRC (top blown rotary converter) processes. Phase equilibrium and thermodynamic studies for the slag and the copper matte or the nickel matte under high partial pressure of SO2 are of practical importance for evaluating the behaviours of the related components in the oxygen-smelting.A series of experimental studies have been already conducted in a limited range of conditions for Pso2 around 0.1 atm, which corresponds to the smelting with air-Stowing [1-5]. However, there remain very few data on the phase equilibrium in the matteslag systems under higher partial pressures of SO2. Tavera and Davenport studied the phase equilibrium between the copper matte and fayalite slag phases under the partial pressure of SO2 controlled at 0.1 - 1 atrn but without controlling the partial pressures of sulfur and oxygen [6]. A potential diagram for the Cu-Fe-S-O-SiO2 system at 1523 - 1573K suggests that the partial pressure of S2 equilibrated with the matte and the fayalite slag with saturated SiO2 under the high SO2 pressure is considerably high at 10-4 - 10-2 atrn [7]. This condition must require controlling of p52 as well as Pso2, in the equilibrium experiments, otherwise, the equilibrium condition may be hardly attained due to the continuous flushing of sulfur from the system."

Jan 1, 2000

By Alexander V. Suvorin, Vladyslav M. Sokolov

"The traditional technologies for production of the coprecipitated and deposited catalysts are analyzed from the standpoint of diversion of application of the feedstock and increase of efficiency for its usage. The options for return of the metals of spent catalysts to the catalysts production are described. The novel environmentally friendly and cost efficient approach for reutilization of the spent catalysts is realized in practice. It anticipates application along with spent catalysts of the waste generated in the catalytic productions. Reutilization of the Ni-containing catalysts is referred as an illustration. Introduction The recent development of large catalytic manufacturing for organic and inorganic synthesis, and petroleum refinery as well as for applied environmental catalysis has brought about increase and diversification of catalysts production. The generation of spent catalysts has been increased correspondently. The feedstock for production of catalysts is mostly metals in a form of nitrates, carbonates, hydroxides, hydroxydcarbonates. Sometimes salts of organic acids, of ammoniates, of chlorides and of sulphates occur. All these materials are scarce and expensive. So their repeated use by reutilization of spent catalysts is very actual issue. The traditional recycling the Fe-, Cr-, Ni-, Cu- or Zn-containing spent catalysts are carried out by pyrometallurgical reclamation of pure metals or alloys. They can not be used directly in production of catalysts [1, 2]. The hydrometallurgical approach is used for recycling spent catalysts with PGM, W, Mo, Co, Ni or Cu. It provides production of salts of these metals in a form of sulphates, chlorides, carbonates, hydroxydcarbonates and sometimes nitrates or ammoniates. Only a limited number of these salts can be used directly in production of catalysts. Material losses during catalysts production The basic feedstock for manufacturing coprecipitated and deposited catalysts that may be produced from the spent catalysts is aqueous solutions of metals nitrates. Their production is based on application of nitric acid as a dissolvent. About half of it is lost with the flue gases in a form of nitrates vapor and nitrogen oxides (II, IV). The last compound is generated by reaction:"

Jan 1, 2008