A method includes forming a powder mixture from a rare earth oxide powder and a lanthanum powder, heating the powder mixture in a crucible assembly positioned in a reduced pressure environment, wherein heating the powder mixture comprises applying heat using a heating element and heating the powder mixture reduces the rare earth oxide powder into a rare earth metal that collects on a collection region of the crucible assembly. The method also includes monitoring a pressure in the reduced pressure environment using a pressure sensor and reducing the heat applied by the heating element to the powder mixture when the pressure in the reduced pressure environment is above a threshold pressure.

A method includes forming a powder mixture from a rare earth oxide powder and a lanthanum powder, heating the powder mixture in a crucible assembly positioned in a reduced pressure environment, wherein heating the powder mixture comprises applying heat using a heating element and heating the powder mixture reduces the rare earth oxide powder into a rare earth metal that collects on a collection region of the crucible assembly. The method also includes monitoring a pressure in the reduced pressure environment using a pressure sensor and reducing the heat applied by the heating element to the powder mixture when the pressure in the reduced pressure environment is above a threshold pressure.

Systems and methods for recovering material from a gas phase are provided. Exemplary systems include a moving bed of particles onto which material can be deposited. The systems can operate in a continuous or semi-continuous mode.

Systems and methods for recovering material from a gas phase are provided. Exemplary systems include a moving bed of particles onto which material can be deposited. The systems can operate in a continuous or semi-continuous mode.

One object of the present disclosure is to provide a production method of magnesium hydride that is free of carbon dioxide and has high production efficiency, a power generation system that does not emit carbon dioxide or radiation using magnesium hydride, and an apparatus for producing magnesium hydride; therefore, the method for producing magnesium hydride of the present disclosure comprises a procedure for irradiating a magnesium compound different from magnesium hydride with hydrogen plasma, and a procedure for depositing a magnesium product containing magnesium hydride on a depositor for depositing magnesium hydride disposed within the range in which hydrogen plasma is present, wherein the surface temperature of the depositor is kept no more than a predetermined temperature at which magnesium hydride precipitates.

A hydrogen, lithium, and lithium hydride processing apparatus includes a hot zone to heat solid-phase lithium hydride to form liquid-phase lithium hydride; a vacuum source to extract hydrogen and gaseous-phase lithium metal from the liquid-phase lithium hydride; a cold zone to condense the gaseous-phase lithium metal as purified solid-phase lithium metal; and a heater to melt the purified solid-phase lithium metal in the cold zone and form refined liquid-phase lithium metal in the hot zone.

A method for generating alkali metal in a zero oxidation state includes reacting an alkali metal compound having a S-M substituent, where M is an alkali metal and S is sulfur, with gold in a zero oxidation state to release the alkali metal in the zero oxidation state. For example, an alkali metal alkylthiolate can be reacted with a gold in a zero oxidation state to release the alkali metal in the zero oxidation state. As another example, an alkali metal sulfide can be reacted with gold in a zero oxidation state to release the alkali metal in the zero oxidation state. The alkali metal may be used in various applications including vapor cells, magnetometers, and magnetic field measurement systems.

A method for generating alkali metal in a zero oxidation state includes reacting an alkali metal compound having a S-M substituent, where M is an alkali metal and S is sulfur, with gold in a zero oxidation state to release the alkali metal in the zero oxidation state. For example, an alkali metal alkylthiolate can be reacted with a gold in a zero oxidation state to release the alkali metal in the zero oxidation state. As another example, an alkali metal sulfide can be reacted with gold in a zero oxidation state to release the alkali metal in the zero oxidation state. The alkali metal may be used in various applications including vapor cells, magnetometers, and magnetic field measurement systems.

Refined niobium-based ferroalloys are provided by removing lead and other impurities therefrom by a process comprising charging niobium ore concentrate and/or niobium oxide or a mixture of niobium oxides to a metallothermic reaction chamber, admixing the ore concentrate and/or niobium oxide with a reducing agent, initiating a metallothermic reaction, under reduced pressure; and allowing the reaction product to solidify and cool; crushing the reaction product or crushing the niobium-based ferroalloy previously reduced in open air, and charging the crushed product to a melting crucible within a vacuum induction melting furnace, lowering the pressure within the furnace to below 1 mbar, and melting the crushed product while vaporizing the impurities contained therein.

Refined niobium-based ferroalloys are provided by removing lead and other impurities therefrom by a process comprising charging niobium ore concentrate and/or niobium oxide or a mixture of niobium oxides to a metallothermic reaction chamber, admixing the ore concentrate and/or niobium oxide with a reducing agent, initiating a metallothermic reaction, under reduced pressure; and allowing the reaction product to solidify and cool; crushing the reaction product or crushing the niobium-based ferroalloy previously reduced in open air, and charging the crushed product to a melting crucible within a vacuum induction melting furnace, lowering the pressure within the furnace to below 1 mbar, and melting the crushed product while vaporizing the impurities contained therein.