A process for preparing whitened fly ash includes the steps of: (a) subjecting fly ash to a size classification step to obtain size classified fly ash having a particle size such that at least 90 wt % has a particle size of from 44 μm to 250 μm; (b) optionally, contacting the size classified fly ash from step (a) with water to form a slurry, wherein the slurry has a solid content of less than 40 wt %; (c) subjecting the slurry obtained in step (b) to an exhaustive magnetic separation step to form magnetically treated fly ash, wherein the exhaustive magnetic separation step includes a first magnetic extraction step and a second magnetic extraction step, wherein the second magnetic extraction step is carried out at a higher magnetic field strength than the first magnetic extraction step; and (d) subjecting the magnetically treated fly ash obtained in step (c) to milling to form whitened fly ash.

A reagent system for treating heavy metal-contaminated materials is provided and includes an oxidizer, a soluble phosphate, and an alkaline hydroxide source, such as a caustic soda or lime. A method of treating mine waste bearing one or more heavy metals is also provided and includes the step of admixing a reagent system with heavy metal-containing material to preferentially reduce the leachability of heavy metals and form precipitates and complexes of low metal solubility that remain stable within the host solid matrix for long durations in acidic and abrasive conditions.

Process and systems for converting waste plastics include feeding a waste plastic to a melt tank, and in the melt tank, heating the waste plastic to form a molten plastic. The molten plastic is withdrawn from the melt tank and fed to a pyrolysis reactor. In the pyrolysis reactor, the molten plastic is heated to a pyrolysis temperature, producing a pyrolysis oil product and a liquid pitch product. The pyrolysis oil is then separated into a pyrolysis gas fraction, a light pyrolysis oil fraction, a medium pyrolysis oil fraction, and a heavy pyrolysis oil fraction.

Process and systems for converting waste plastics include feeding a waste plastic to a melt tank, and in the melt tank, heating the waste plastic to form a molten plastic. The molten plastic is withdrawn from the melt tank and fed to a pyrolysis reactor. In the pyrolysis reactor, the molten plastic is heated to a pyrolysis temperature, producing a pyrolysis oil product and a liquid pitch product. The pyrolysis oil is then separated into a pyrolysis gas fraction, a light pyrolysis oil fraction, a medium pyrolysis oil fraction, and a heavy pyrolysis oil fraction.

The present invention provides a method which is capable of more strictly controlling the oxygen partial pressure required during the melting of a starting material, thereby being capable of recovering a valuable metal more efficiently. A method for recovering valuable metals (Cu, Ni, Co), said method comprising the following steps: a step for preparing, as a starting material, a charge that contains at least phosphorus (P), iron (Fe) and valuable metals; a step for heating and melting the starting material into a melt, and subsequently forming the melt into a molten material that contains an alloy and slag; and a step for recovering the alloy that contains valuable metals by separating the slag from the molten material. With respect to this method for recovering valuable metals, the oxygen partial pressure in the melt is directly measured with use of an oxygen analyzer when the starting material is heated and melted.

Proposed is a method of preparing high-purity lithium carbonate through reduction calcining of waste cathode materials without using a carbonate such as sodium carbonate. The method reduces the amount of water required for lithium carbonate recovery, thereby reducing energy consumption for evaporation of water. The method includes (a) preparing scrap powder, (b) reducing and calcining the scrap powder using activated carbon, (c) preparing a lithium hydrogen carbonate solution by adding carbon dioxide gas and the reduced and calcined scrap powder to 8° C. to 12° C. soft water, (d) separating the lithium hydrogen carbonate solution into solid and liquid; (e) converting lithium hydrogen carbonate into lithium carbonate by heating, evaporating, and concentrating the lithium hydrogen carbonate solution, and (f) obtaining the lithium carbonate through filtration.

The invention relates to devices for disposal of waste in solid, liquid and gaseous state thereof, in particular, it relates to devices for providing waste disposal by plasma-chemical destruction. A technical effect obtained by this invention is implementation of a reactor providing destruction of both organic and inorganic substances of residential solid and/or liquid waste. The technical effect is obtained by a reactor provided in form of a closed cavity having an input orifice connected to a waste feed apparatus and an output orifice for outputting gaseous products of destruction. Inner surfaces of the cavity are made electrically conductive entirely or partially and an electrode is inserted into the reactor. The electrode is isolated from the conductive surfaces and connected to a source of high-voltage pulses, and size of a gap between the electrode and the conductive surfaces of the cavity provides formation of plasma streamers by corona discharge.

The invention relates to devices for disposal of waste in solid, liquid and gaseous state thereof, in particular, it relates to devices for providing waste disposal by plasma-chemical destruction. A technical effect obtained by this invention is implementation of a reactor providing destruction of both organic and inorganic substances of residential solid and/or liquid waste. The technical effect is obtained by a reactor provided in form of a closed cavity having an input orifice connected to a waste feed apparatus and an output orifice for outputting gaseous products of destruction. Inner surfaces of the cavity are made electrically conductive entirely or partially and an electrode is inserted into the reactor. The electrode is isolated from the conductive surfaces and connected to a source of high-voltage pulses, and size of a gap between the electrode and the conductive surfaces of the cavity provides formation of plasma streamers by corona discharge.

The invention relates to methods of household waste management, in particular, to methods of disposing waste by plasma-chemical destruction method. The invention is directed to attaining a technical effect of broadening range of technical solutions by providing a method of destruction of household waste at low temperature of treatment that is comparable to environment temperature. This technical effect is attained by a destruction method, where household waste is fed into a reactor via an input opening, and entry of atmospheric air into the reactor is restricted. The reactor is a closed cavity, whose inner surface is made conductive entirely or partially and is grounded. An electrode protrudes into the reactor, and this electrode is isolated from the grounded surface. High-voltage pulses are supplied to the electrode. The pulses cause formation of corona discharge streamers in a gap between the electrode and the conductive surface of the reactor.

The invention relates to cremation of dead bodies of humans or animals by plasma-chemical destruction method. A mobile crematorium includes a chassis bearing a reactor implemented as a closed cavity with an opening for placing dead bodies of humans or animals to be cremated into the reactor, and to close the reactor after that, and also with an opening for outputting gaseous products. The crematorium additionally includes a source of high-voltage pulses, that is connected to an electrode protruding into the reactor via an isolating member, wherein inner surfaces of the reactor cavity are made conductive entirely or partially and a gap is provided between the inner surfaces and the electrode, the gap assuring generation of corona discharge plasma in the reactor due to the high-voltage pulses.