Oxygen is injected into the windbox of a fluidized bed ore roaster to form a fluidizing and oxidizing gas stream of elevated oxygen content which is fed into only the feed zone into which the ore to be fluidized is fed.

A method for the heat treatment of granular solids includes initially introducing solids into a first reactor configured as a flash reactor or fluidized bed reactor where they are brought into contact with hot gases at temperatures in the range 500 C. to 1500 C. Next, the solids are passed through a residence time reactor in which they are fluidized. The residence time reactor is configured in a manner such that it has various regions which are separated from one another, from which the solid can be withdrawn in a manner such that it is provided with a variety of residence times in the residence time reactor.

A method for the heat treatment of granular solids includes initially introducing solids into a first reactor configured as a flash reactor or fluidized bed reactor where they are brought into contact with hot gases at temperatures in the range 500 C. to 1500 C. Next, the solids are passed through a residence time reactor in which they are fluidized. The residence time reactor is configured in a manner such that it has various regions which are separated from one another, from which the solid can be withdrawn in a manner such that it is provided with a variety of residence times in the residence time reactor.

A method for extracting and separating Gold, Silver, Copper, Zinc and/or Lead from an Arsenic-containing ore, concentrate or tailings characterized in that the extraction is carried by roasting in the presence of a calcium-containing material and at least one of an alkali metal halide and alkaline metal halide. In the method, Arsenic remains immobilized in the extraction residue.

A method for extracting and separating Gold, Silver, Copper, Zinc and/or Lead from an Arsenic-containing ore, concentrate or tailings characterized in that the extraction is carried by roasting in the presence of a calcium-containing material and at least one of an alkali metal halide and alkaline metal halide. In the method, Arsenic remains immobilized in the extraction residue.

A process for roasting of metal concentrate wherein concentrate particles are fed into a roaster where they are thermally treated at a temperature in the range of 500 and 1200 C. in a fluidized bed to form a calcine. At least parts of the calcine are withdrawn from the roaster together with a gas stream as a solid fraction. Concentrate particles with a diameter at least 50% smaller than the average diameter of the concentrate particles are separated as small particles and/or particles from the gas-solid-fraction are separated in at least one step as small calcine particles and/or particles are gained in another hydrometallurgical step as other particles. Defined particles are pelletized, whereby at least 80% of the pellets feature a diameter of at least 80% of the concentrate particles average diameter. The pellets are fed into the roaster.

A process for roasting of metal concentrate wherein concentrate particles are fed into a roaster where they are thermally treated at a temperature in the range of 500 and 1200 C. in a fluidized bed to form a calcine. At least parts of the calcine are withdrawn from the roaster together with a gas stream as a solid fraction. Concentrate particles with a diameter at least 50% smaller than the average diameter of the concentrate particles are separated as small particles and/or particles from the gas-solid-fraction are separated in at least one step as small calcine particles and/or particles are gained in another hydrometallurgical step as other particles. Defined particles are pelletized, whereby at least 80% of the pellets feature a diameter of at least 80% of the concentrate particles average diameter. The pellets are fed into the roaster.

An alloy product is produced by an aluminothermic reduction process and an alloying process with one or more other metals or master alloy, where the reduction process and the alloying process are performed in a single stage. The final alloy product may have a scandium concentration that is greater than 0% and less than about 2%. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a first melt is produced at a first melt temperature, a melting and alloying step is performed at a second melt temperature, less than the first melt temperature, and the temperature of the first melt is not substantially less than the second melt temperature before the melting and alloying step.

In a method for recovering an active metal of a lithium secondary battery, positive electrode active material particles including a lithium-transition metal oxide is prepared. The positive active material particles are treated by reduction. The reduction-treated positive active particles are subjected to ultrasonic dispersion and hydration. The hydrated transition metal slurry is recovered. The recovery rate of lithium and transition metal can be increased by disaggregation through ultrasonic dispersion.

A reactor comprises an outer sidewall and a bottom wall enclosing a hollow chamber comprising a lower fluidized bed zone and an upper freeboard zone. A plurality of inlets is provided for injecting at least one fluidizing medium into the fluidized bed zone and creating a swirling flow. At least one feed inlet communicates with the fluidized bed zone; and at least one product outlet is provided for removing a product from the chamber, the outlet(s) communicating with either the fluidized bed zone or the freeboard zone. The reactor has at least one internal barrier located inside the hollow chamber, and at least partly located in the fluidized bed zone. The internal barrier(s) have at least one opening within the fluidized bed zone, such as an underflow opening, to permit internal recirculation of material from the product zone to the feed zone, thereby simplifying reactor structure.