A system for recovering precious metals includes a rotatable drum, recyclable materials, and a separating solution. The rotatable drum is configured to receive recyclable materials. The recyclable materials include non-metallic materials and electronic components, with one or both of the non-metallic materials and the electronic components having attached thereto one or both of base metals and precious metals. The separating solution is disposed in the rotatable drum and is configured to separate the base metals and the precious metals from the electronic components and the non-metallic materials and to separate the electronic components from the non-metallic materials. The rotatable drum is configured to agitate the recyclable materials and to wash the recyclable materials with the separating solution. The electronic components, non-metallic materials, base metals, and precious metals are each separately removable from the separating solution.

A spinel-reinforced magnesium oxide-based foam ceramic filter that is obtained by by coating onto a polyurethane foam carrier a slurry of light calcined magnesium oxide-based ceramic comprising a nanometer lanthanum oxide sintering aid, and then drying and sintering. A method for preparing the foam ceramic filter comprising: 1) preparing a ceramic slurry having a solid content of 60%-70% by dosing 15%-25% by mass of a nanometer alumina sol, 0.8%-1.5% by mass of a rheological agent, and the balance magnesium oxide ceramic powder comprising a nanometer lanthanum oxide sintering aid, and then adding absolute ethanol and ball milling to mix until uniform; 2) soaking a polyurethane foam template into the ceramic slurry, squeezing by a roller press the polyurethane foam template to remove redundant slurry therein to make a biscuit, and then removing the ethanol solvent in a ventilation chamber at a temperature of 40 C.-50 C. to dry the biscuit; 3) putting the dried biscuit into a sintering furnace, elevating the temperature to 1350 C.-1550 C. and performing a high temperature sintering, cooling to the room temperature with the furnace to obtain the magnesium oxide-based ceramic foam filter.

Additively manufactured ceramic filters are disclosed. A plurality of pores, each having a uniform geometry, arc arranged between an inlet surface and an outlet surface of a single unit of ceramic such that the plurality of pores change in size uniformly from the inlet surface to the outlet surface. The pores are respectively interconnected, and the size, shape, orientation, and/or interconnection of the pores are chosen to provide hydrodynamic features that provide effective filtration for a given liquid and contamination. The pores are additively manufactured with optimized precision.

A molten metal filter box. The filter box includes a filter housing provided in a flow path for molten metal. A horizontal partition is disposed within the filter housing and has at least one filter receiving passage. A filter medium in the shape of a substantially flat plate is positioned within the filter receiving passage and below an inflow path of the molten metal. The filter medium includes a hole. A filter handling tool is disposed within the hole. The filter handling tool can optionally include a handle secured to the molten metal filter box to suspend the filter medium. Advantageously, the filter medium can be removed by grasping the filter handling tool and removing the filter medium.

A method and apparatus for step-by-step retrieving valuable metals from waste printed circuit board particles. Many kinds of metals, most existing in form of elementary substance or alloy, are contained in the waste printed circuit boards. Molten metals are separated selectively by supergravity separation at different temperatures to achieve the step-by-step recovery. Tin-based alloys, lead-based alloy, zinc aluminum alloy, crude copper and precious-metal-enriched residues with different metal contents are separated out and collected on the condition of different temperatures (T=200300 C., 330430 C., 700900 C., 11001300 C.) and controlling the gravity coefficient (G=501000) and separation time (t=220 min) etc. Different metals or alloys can be separated quickly and efficiently and the residue concentration of precious metals can be obtained. The process is simple and low cost to provide an efficient way to recovery the enrichment of valuable metals from electronic wastes.

Apparatus and a method for filtering molten metal, in particular aluminium, including a container (1) with a removable lid (20) provided on top of the container to keep the container sealed (air tight) during operation, the container (1) being provided with an inlet chamber (2) having an inlet opening (5) receiving metal from a metal supply launder (10) and outlet chamber (3) with outlet opening (6) connected to a launder segment (10). The container further being provided with partition wall (8) between the inlet chamber (2) and outlet chamber (3) and with ceramic foam filter (17) mounted in the outlet chamber. The inlet chamber (2) and outlet chamber (3) are provided side by side within the container (1) and being split by the partition wall (8) extending from the bottom of the container and upwardly to a preset level of the container interior height. The container (1) is connected in parallel with the metal supply launder (10) via stubs (5, 6) that communicates with the inlet (5) and outlet (6) openings respectively, the launder (10) being provided with a dam (14) or valve device downstream the outlet (6) of the container (1) and another dam or valve device (13) between the said launder stubs (5 and 6). Inside the container (1) there is further arranged a second outlet chamber (4) with a filter (17) that when in use, communicates with the first outlet chamber (3) via a space above a partition wall (8) extending from the bottom of the container and upwardly to a preset level of the container interior height, where the second outlet chamber (4) has one outlet (7) provided by a stub (7) connected to a launder segment (10) being in connection with metal supply launder (10). The second outlet chamber (4) is used for increasing the filter capacity when producing metal with a high cleanliness.

A filter for filtering a liquid metal and to be received in a mold housing defined by internal side and face walls. The filter has a top wall and side walls extending downwardly from the top wall, the side walls being joined together at respective corners. The side walls extend downwardly towards distal end portions. The corners of the filter have a stiffness or rigidity that is higher that the remainder of the filter for increasing the strength of the overall filter and for helping the filter to maintain its shape and integrity throughout casting. The shape of the side walls allows an easy and consistent placement of the filter in the mold housing and ensures that the filter is maintained in place.

An apparatus and method for filtering molten metal (M), such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy includes at least one ceramic foam filter or any other type of filtration media such as porous tube or alumina balls disposed in a receptacle (12) for the molten metal (M). A vibrator vibrates at least one of the filter, the receptacle (12) or the metal and may be used to induce priming, filtering and/or drainage of the filter. The vibrator may be retrofitted to an existing filter system and may be adjustable in frequency and amplitude. The vibration may be continuous over a given period or produced in a single shock.

Additively manufactured ceramic filters are disclosed. A plurality of pores, each having a uniform geometry, are arranged between an inlet surface and an outlet surface of a single unit of ceramic such that the plurality of pores change in size uniformly from the inlet surface to the outlet surface. The pores are respectively interconnected, and the size, shape, orientation, and/or interconnection of the pores are chosen to provide hydrodynamic features that provide effective filtration for a given liquid and contamination. The pores are additively manufactured with optimized precision.

Methods and systems for the production and delivery of lithium metal of high purity are provided. More particularly, methods and systems for lithium metal purification, delivery and deposition are provided. In at least one aspect, a liquid lithium delivery system is provided. The liquid lithium delivery system comprises a liquid lithium delivery module. The liquid lithium delivery system comprises a lithium storage region operable to store the liquid lithium, a pumping region operable to move liquid lithium through the lithium delivery, and a flow control region. The pumping region comprises an electromagnetic pump operable to move the liquid lithium using electromagnetism. The flow control region operable to control the flow of liquid lithium, comprising one or more valves operable to control the flow of the liquid lithium, wherein the pumping region is positioned downstream from the lithium storage region and upstream from the flow control region.