Abstract:
The invention relates to a process of recovering a non-ferrous metal from a dross containing the same. The process involves introducing into a furnace (preferably a rotary furnace) the dross and a coalescing aid for the metal, heating the dross and fluoride compound to a treatment temperature above the melting point of the metal, using a heating device which substantially maintains a non-oxidizing atmosphere in the furnace, agitating the dross until it reaches the treatment temperature, removing the molten metal thereby separated from a solid dross residue and removing the solid dross residue from the furnace. The coalescing aid is fluoride salt or mixture that remains substantially solid at the treatment temperature, for example, cryolite, recovered cryolite, AlF3 or NaF, or a mixture thereof. The salt or mixture remains in the dross during the process and does not make the dross become sticky, thus avoiding agglomeration of the dross particles. The use of the fluoride improves the rate of recovery of the metal content of the dross without producing environmental difficulties either during the heating operation or during the disposal or use of the dross residue.
Abstract:
A method of recovering an aluminum-containing metal (16) from a scrap material (14, 14') containing the metal and an organic contaminant, such as paper, plastics, lacquer, paint or oil. The method involves creating a fluidized bed (10) of solid particles, maintaining a zone of the bed at a temperature in the range of the melting point of the metal to 1000 DEG C, introducing the scrap material into the fluidized zone to cause decoating of the metal within a time in the range of 1 to 40 seconds, at least partially melting the metal, and removing the metal material from the fluidized bed. In this way, decoating and at least partial melting is achieved essentially at the same time for improved efficiency. Metals of different melting point may also be separated from each other by providing a series of temperature zones in the fluidized bed (or in a series of fluidized beds) of progressively increasing temperature. If a limited amount of oxygen is introduced into the bed, a combustible gas is produced that can be burned to extract its energy or can be stored for later use.
Abstract:
A process for producing mineral fibers and the fibers thus produced are disclosed. The process involves forming a melt comprising an alumina-containing residue from a metal melting operation and one or more mineral raw materials suitable for forming mineral fibers, dividing the melt into streams and cooling the streams to produce the fibers. The residue from the metal melting operation acts as an inexpensive, substantially non-polluting source of alumina which can be used to increase the alumina content of the fibers and thus improve their properties, or which can be used as a replacement for more expensive or less desirable sources of alumina.