公开(公告)号：WO2022178037A1

公开(公告)日：2022-08-25

申请号：PCT/US2022/016668

申请日：2022-02-16

Applicant: GRON METALLIC GROUP, INC.

Inventor： BERGGREN, Scott, Lee ,  COBETT, Thomas, Allen ,  KENNEDY, Paul, Stanton ,  MISHRA, Brajendra ,  TANVAR, Himanshu

IPC: C21B3/04 ,  C22B5/10 ,  C21C1/00

Abstract: A method of recovering iron and other species from tailings that contain iron oxide. In the method an electric induction furnace or electric arc furnace is used as an iron-reduction furnace. The furnace is charged with tailings that contain iron oxide, a carbon source such as solid graphitic portions that comprises recycled graphite, wherein the carbon source functions at least as an iron oxide reductant, and a starting heel of melted iron. The furnace is operated so as to reduce and melt iron from the tailings, and thereby create an iron-rich liquid component and a liquid residual slag. The slag can be further processed to recover valuable elements such as Sc, Ti, Si, Al, Ca, and rare earth elements (REE). In an example this recovery is accomplished utilizing a sulfuric acid baking process heated by microwave energy followed by water-based leaching steps.