A mineralizer composition for Pidgeon silicothermic process for smelting magnesium consists of fluorite and a boron-containing compound. Amounts of the fluorite and the boron-containing compound meet the following equation:

M.sub.fluo-original=(1−x)M.sub.fluo+(m)(x)M.sub.B,

where, M.sub.fluo-original is a mass of the fluorite required in a conventional Pidgeon silicothermic process in which no boron-containing compound is introduced to replace a fraction or all of the total fluorite, M.sub.fluo is a mass of the fluorite in the composition, M.sub.B is a mass of the boron-containing compound in the composition, 0.5≤x≤1, and 2≤m≤8. A Pidgeon silicothermic process for smelting magnesium is also provided, which employs the mineralizer composition. The composition and process of the disclosure enable reduction and even avoidance of dust pollution caused by fluorite-containing magnesium slag.

A mineralizer composition for Pidgeon silicothermic process for smelting magnesium consists of fluorite and a boron-containing compound. Amounts of the fluorite and the boron-containing compound meet the following equation:

M.sub.fluo-original=(1−x)M.sub.fluo+(m)(x)M.sub.B,

where, M.sub.fluo-original is a mass of the fluorite required in a conventional Pidgeon silicothermic process in which no boron-containing compound is introduced to replace a fraction or all of the total fluorite, M.sub.fluo is a mass of the fluorite in the composition, M.sub.B is a mass of the boron-containing compound in the composition, 0.5≤x≤1, and 2≤m≤8. A Pidgeon silicothermic process for smelting magnesium is also provided, which employs the mineralizer composition. The composition and process of the disclosure enable reduction and even avoidance of dust pollution caused by fluorite-containing magnesium slag.

Systems and methods are described in which spent pickle liquor from metal cleaning processes is utilized to regenerate a lixiviant used to recover valuable metals from industrial waste and other sources. The spent pickle liquor is neutralized and solvated metals in the spent pickle liquor are precipitated in this process. When the industrial waste is slag from a metal refining process a partially closed metal production process can be implemented, where spent pickle liquor from cleaning of the refined metal is used to regenerate a lixiviant used to recover a different, valuable metal from a waste slag of the process, with precipitated salts from the lixiviant regeneration being returned as a raw material in the metal refining process. As a result waste streams from these processes are dramatically reduced or eliminated.

The present invention relates to separation and recovery of metals from ground alkaline batteries using anode mud (zinc electrolysis waste) and other manganese and zinc containing materials. The material commonly referred to as alkaline black (AKB) is solubilized into sulfate media and the manganese to zinc ratio is adjusted. The solution containing metals is processed using crystallization and ion exchange methods to produce manganese sulfate and zinc sulfate solutions for several possible applications.

The present invention relates to separation and recovery of metals from ground alkaline batteries using anode mud (zinc electrolysis waste) and other manganese and zinc containing materials. The material commonly referred to as alkaline black (AKB) is solubilized into sulfate media and the manganese to zinc ratio is adjusted. The solution containing metals is processed using crystallization and ion exchange methods to produce manganese sulfate and zinc sulfate solutions for several possible applications.

Method and apparatus are provided for efficient metal distillation, and for related primary product process. Vertically stacked and gravity-driven evaporators and condensers are employed to distill metals, such metals having different volatilities. A multiple-effect thermal system of magnesium and other volatile metals is used to efficiently distill and separate metals from multiple metal alloys.

Method and apparatus are provided for efficient metal distillation, and for related primary product process. Vertically stacked and gravity-driven evaporators and condensers are employed to distill metals, such metals having different volatilities. A multiple-effect thermal system of magnesium and other volatile metals is used to efficiently distill and separate metals from multiple metal alloys.

A solid metal flux comprised of compacted granules including (a) alkali chloride salt, (b) alkaline earth chloride salt and (c) at least one nitrate, carbonate, or sulfate salt and/or a fluoride containing salt.

The invention enables “green” and “conflict-free” acquisition of critical minerals via refinement from aqueous sources. These advantages are impactful in applications including refinement of rare materials such as certain metals, especially metals necessary for production of energy storage devices required to advance environmental goals, such as in the Paris climate agreement. The inventive concepts include economically viable approaches to refinement, as well as economically viable apparatuses. In some approaches, valuable materials such as metals are refined from salts obtained from aqueous sources. Power required to refine materials is provided by renewable energy sources. Real world implementations involve co-locating a dissociative reactor with a geothermal energy plant near an aquifer with salt(s) therein. Refined minerals are produced on site. Practice of the disclosed techniques reduce or eliminate many negative environmental impacts such as those incurred by legacy mining based techniques.

A device for producing purified, especially high-purity, magnesium includes a reactor for vacuum distillation that is extended along a longitudinal axis (L). The reactor defines a reactor inner chamber having a heating region for heating magnesium. A crucible forms a crucible inner chamber for receiving purified magnesium vaporized and condensed by the device. A radial projection in the heating region defines a contact surface that extends essentially transverse to the longitudinal axis (L) and forms an essentially sealed connection with an edge of the crucible adjacent to the crucible inner chamber.