A method includes the introduction of a first medium into the compartment through an inlet and the heating of the first medium when it is present in the inlet. The heating takes place through the use of a combustion arrangement that is arranged in the inlet and that comprises fuel. The heating, the use of the combustion arrangement, includes in turn the ignition of the fuel, combustion of the fuel, and the transfer of the combustion heat to the first medium that is present at the combustion arrangement in the inlet. The combustion arrangement, is arranged in a region in the inlet, which in turn is arranged outside of the direct passage of the first medium in and through the inlet, such that the ignition of the fuel, the combustion of the fuel and the transfer of combustion heat to the first medium take place in this region.

Provided is a method for recovering scandium, with which it is possible to easily and efficiently recover high-purity scandium from nickel oxide ores. This method for recovering scandium involves passing a solution containing scandium through an ion exchange resin, then subjecting the eluant eluted from the ion exchange resin to solvent extraction and separating the extraction residual liquid and the extraction agent after extraction, then performing an oxalation process on the extraction residual liquid to obtain a scandium oxalate precipitate, and roasting the precipitate to obtain scandium oxide, wherein the method is characterized in that an amine-based extraction agent is used as the extraction agent for solvent extraction.

Provided is a method for recovering scandium, with which it is possible to easily and efficiently recover high-purity scandium from nickel oxide ores. This method for recovering scandium involves passing a solution containing scandium through an ion exchange resin, then subjecting the eluant eluted from the ion exchange resin to solvent extraction and separating the extraction residual liquid and the extraction agent after extraction, then performing an oxalation process on the extraction residual liquid to obtain a scandium oxalate precipitate, and roasting the precipitate to obtain scandium oxide, wherein the method is characterized in that an amine-based extraction agent is used as the extraction agent for solvent extraction.

Disclosed is a method for preparing vanadium or vanadium alloy powder from a vanadium-containing raw material through a shortened process, including: calcinating a mixture of a vanadium-containing raw material and an alkali compound for oxidation to form a water-soluble vanadate; purifying the vanadate followed by vanadium precipitation to produce an intermediate CaV.sub.2O.sub.6 with high purity; dissolving CaV.sub.2O.sub.6 in a molten-salt medium together with other raw materials to form a uniform reaction system; and introducing a reducing agent to the system followed by separation, washing and drying to produce vanadium or vanadium alloy powder having a particle size of 50-800 nm and a purity of 99.0 wt % or more. The method can continuously process vanadium-containing raw materials to prepare vanadium or vanadium alloy powder.

Disclosed is a method for preparing vanadium or vanadium alloy powder from a vanadium-containing raw material through a shortened process, including: calcinating a mixture of a vanadium-containing raw material and an alkali compound for oxidation to form a water-soluble vanadate; purifying the vanadate followed by vanadium precipitation to produce an intermediate CaV.sub.2O.sub.6 with high purity; dissolving CaV.sub.2O.sub.6 in a molten-salt medium together with other raw materials to form a uniform reaction system; and introducing a reducing agent to the system followed by separation, washing and drying to produce vanadium or vanadium alloy powder having a particle size of 50-800 nm and a purity of 99.0 wt % or more. The method can continuously process vanadium-containing raw materials to prepare vanadium or vanadium alloy powder.

A method for upgrading an ilmenite ore for yielding a high-TiO.sub.2-content titanium source by separating and removing an iron component from ilmenite (FeTiO.sub.3), which includes an oxidation step of oxidizing a starting ilmenite; after the oxidation step, a reduction step of reducing the treated ilmenite; and after the reduction step, an extraction step of dissolving the iron component with an acid, to thereby remove the iron component. Also disclosed is a production method for producing a high-TiO.sub.2-content titanium source, which includes upgrading an ilmenite ore as described above, and a high-TiO.sub.2-content titanium source produced through the production method.

The present invention discloses the systems of producing calcium and magnesium carbonate from the Ca/Mg containing solution leached by a CO.sub.2-based hydrometallurgical process which includes: a precipitation reactor that the Ca/Mg containing leached solution is continuously added and fully mixed with the alkaline reagent at specific mole ratio into the precipitation reactor and the reactor also comprises a CO.sub.2 bubbling module where CO.sub.2 is captured and recirculated from the thermal decomposition process as needed; a solid-liquid separation unit that the treated slurry is treated by the solid-liquid separation unit to produce precipitated calcium and magnesium carbonate products where the recirculating water is recycled back into the precipitation reactor; a thermal decomposition unit that the calcium and magnesium carbonate products is calcined by the thermal decomposition unit to produce an alkaline reagent and the alkaline reagent is recycled back into the precipitation reactor for the next batch of reaction.

The disclosure relates to a machine for thermal treatment of bulk material, comprising: a stationary furnace which presents a support structure, and a plurality of pallet cars traveling through the furnace, said plurality of pallet cars together defining, at a lateral side thereof, a common engagement surface which extends through the furnace, wherein a gap is defined between the support structure of the furnace and the common engagement surface, said gap having a gap length, the machine further comprising: a sealing system comprising a series of leaf members which are partially overlapping, wherein each leaf member of the series of leaf members is connected to the support structure at a first end thereof, and self-biased into engagement with the engagement surface at a second, opposite, end thereof such that the series of leaf members, together, cover the gap over at least part of the gap length.

The disclosure relates to a machine for thermal treatment of bulk material, comprising: a stationary furnace which presents a support structure, and a plurality of pallet cars traveling through the furnace, said plurality of pallet cars together defining, at a lateral side thereof, a common engagement surface which extends through the furnace, wherein a gap is defined between the support structure of the furnace and the common engagement surface, said gap having a gap length, the machine further comprising: a sealing system comprising a series of leaf members which are partially overlapping, wherein each leaf member of the series of leaf members is connected to the support structure at a first end thereof, and self-biased into engagement with the engagement surface at a second, opposite, end thereof such that the series of leaf members, together, cover the gap over at least part of the gap length.

Single-stage and multi-stage systems and methods for the recovery of critical elements in substantially pure form from lithium ion batteries are provided. The systems and methods include supported membrane solvent extraction using an immobilized organic phase within the pores of permeable hollow fibers. The permeable hollow fibers are contacted by a feed solution on one side, and a strip solution on another side, to provide the simultaneous extraction and stripping of elements from dissolved lithium ion cathode materials, while rejecting other elements from the feed solution. The single- and multi-stage systems and methods can selectively recover cobalt, manganese, nickel, lithium, aluminum and other elements from spent battery cathodes and are not limited by equilibrium constraints as compared to traditional solvent extraction processes.