An industrial microwave ultrasonic reactor has an inner wall liner. A microwave generation device is formed by microwave units distributed on an outer sidewall, or by a microwave pipe disposed outside the reactor and microwave units distributed on the microwave pipe. One end of the microwave pipe communicates with the bottom of the reactor via a connection pipe I, and the other end communicates with the top via a return pipe. A shield is disposed outside the microwave generation device to separate the microwave units from the outside, and a heat removal device is disposed outside the shield. An ultrasonic wave generation device is formed by 10 to 30 sets of ultrasonic pulse units disposed at intervals along the outer sidewall. Each set has 10 to 50 members distributed along the circumferential direction of the reactor. A stirring shaft is fixed below a stirring motor and extends into the reactor.

Apparatuses and processes for recycling printed wire boards, wherein electronic components, precious metals and base metals may be collected for reuse and recycling. The apparatuses generally include a mechanical solder removal module and/or a thermal module, a chemical solder removal module, and a precious metal leaching module, wherein the modules are attached for continuous passage of the e-waste from module to module.

Apparatuses and processes for recycling printed wire boards, wherein electronic components, precious metals and base metals may be collected for reuse and recycling. The apparatuses generally include a mechanical solder removal module and/or a thermal module, a chemical solder removal module, and a precious metal leaching module, wherein the modules are attached for continuous passage of the e-waste from module to module.

A method for plasma treatment of wet metal-containing wastes in which a plasma treatment unit comprises an electrically conductive hearth for holding a layer of slag and optionally a layer of metal produced by the plasma treatment. A graphite electrode is arranged above the hearth, so that, in use, a plasma arc is formed between the electrode and the hearth. One or more inlets for the particulate metal-containing waste are arranged adjacent to the electrode and sufficiently close to the electrode so that, in use, the particulate metal-containing waste fed into the plasma treatment unit falls close to the arc formed between the electrode and the hearth and is heated by the plasma arc before contacting the slag layer such that moisture present in the particulate metal-containing waste is completely volatilized in a head space of the furnace.

A system and method for melting a raw material. The raw material is fed into an electrically conductive vessel. A plasma arc torch melts at least some of the raw material within the vessel to thereby create a molten material. An inductor, physically disposed adjacent the vessel, and electrically disposed in series with the vessel in operation, effects electromagnetic stirring of the molten material by interacting with the current of the plasma arc torch.

A method for producing a collector alloy comprising 25 to 100 wt % precious metal in total, comprising 0 to <97 wt % of the precious metal silver, 0 to 75 wt % of at least one precious metal selected from gold, platinum, rhodium and palladium, and 0 to 75 wt % of at least one non-precious metal selected from copper, iron, tin and nickel, or for producing pure silver, comprising the steps of: (1) providing precious metal sweeps; (2) providing a flux which, during collective melting with the refractory inorganic material from the precious metal sweeps provided in step (1); (3) collective melting of the materials provided in steps (1) and (2) at a temperature in the range of from 1300 to 1600 C., forming a melt comprising at least two phases of different densities arranged one above the other; and, (4) separating the upper phase and the lower phase.

This invention relates generally to novel methods and novel devices for the continuous manufacture of nanoparticles, microparticles and nanoparticle/liquid solution(s). The nanoparticles (and/or micron-sized particles) comprise a variety of possible compositions, sizes and shapes. The particles (e.g., nanoparticles) are caused to be present (e.g., created) in a liquid (e.g., water) by, for example, preferably utilizing at least one adjustable plasma (e.g., created by at least one AC and/or DC power source), which plasma communicates with at least a portion of a surface of the liquid. At least one subsequent and/or substantially simultaneous adjustable electrochemical processing technique is also preferred. Multiple adjustable plasmas and/or adjustable electrochemical processing techniques are preferred. The continuous process causes at least one liquid to flow into, through and out of at least one trough member, such liquid being processed, conditioned and/or effected in said trough member(s). Results include constituents formed in the liquid including micron-sized particles and/or nanoparticles (e.g., metallic-based nanoparticles) of novel size, shape, composition and properties present in a liquid.

Described herein are methods of making polysialate systems using earth materials treated by plasma or microwave to make the earth materials alkali reactive. A treated earth material is obtained, for example by treating an earth material using plasma, microwaves, or both. A metal is removed from the treated earth material, for example by mixing with an organic solvent or aqueous solution having pH less than about 9. The remaining earth material is alkali reactive and can be formed into a polysialate system by exposure to a high pH aqueous solution.

A method and system for carrying out non-thermal plasma direct reduction of ore ultrafines into resource material are described. In particular, the present invention is directed to a method for direct reduction of ultrafines using an integrated system including an ultrafines source and a non-thermal plasma source. The method includes delivering ultrafines to a reduction reaction zone; and applying, within the reduction reaction zone, a non-thermal plasma to the ultrafines.