An environmentally friendly (e.g. no acid, base, or cyanide) system and process for large scale extraction of metal ion into aerobic molten salt (or ionic liquid) and the electrodeposition of metal (e.g. copper, gold, silver, etc.) from the metal ion dissolved in the molten salt. The non-volatile low vapor pressure liquid salt is reusable, and heat from the molten slag can heat the molten salts or ionic liquids. Another embodiment comprises a one-pot apparatus for the extraction of metal (e.g. copper) from metal earths and electrodepositing the metal using a low melting (209 C.) aerated NaKZn chloride salt in which copper metal oxidizes and is converted to soluble copper chloride. When an electrical power supply is connected to the graphite vessel (cathode) and to copper rods in the melt (anodes), then the copper chloride is deposited as copper metal by electroreduction on the bottom of the graphite reaction vessel.

An environmentally friendly (e.g. no acid, base, or cyanide) system and process for large scale extraction of metal ion into aerobic molten salt (or ionic liquid) and the electrodeposition of metal (e.g. copper, gold, silver, etc.) from the metal ion dissolved in the molten salt. The non-volatile low vapor pressure liquid salt is reusable, and heat from the molten slag can heat the molten salts or ionic liquids. Another embodiment comprises a one-pot apparatus for the extraction of metal (e.g. copper) from metal earths and electrodepositing the metal using a low melting (209 C.) aerated NaKZn chloride salt in which copper metal oxidizes and is converted to soluble copper chloride. When an electrical power supply is connected to the graphite vessel (cathode) and to copper rods in the melt (anodes), then the copper chloride is deposited as copper metal by electroreduction on the bottom of the graphite reaction vessel.

Described is an oven (1) for melting precious and non-precious metals, non-metallic materials such as ashes, organic industrial waste, inorganic material such as ceramics, which are heat-resistant and not, in particular in the jewellery sector, comprising an outer unit (2) forming an inner space (6) and having an inductive thermal unit (3) positioned around the inner space (6); an inner unit (4) positioned in the inner space (6) and having a melting chamber (5) for a metal to be melted and operating in conjunction with the inductive thermal unit (3) in such a way that a heating of the inner unit (4) by the inductive thermal unit (3) causes the melting of the metal in the melting pot (5). In particular, the melting chamber (5) has an opening (11) for loading and unloading the metal. The inner unit (4) is rotatably mounted in a motor-driven fashion on the outer unit (2) about an axis of rotation (Z) suitable for mixing the metal contained in the melting chamber (5). Moreover, the outer unit (2) has rotatable supporting means (21) defining a tilting axis (Y) perpendicular to the axis of rotation (Z) and suitable for unloading liquid metal from the melting chamber (5).

Described is an oven (1) for melting precious and non-precious metals, non-metallic materials such as ashes, organic industrial waste, inorganic material such as ceramics, which are heat-resistant and not, in particular in the jewellery sector, comprising an outer unit (2) forming an inner space (6) and having an inductive thermal unit (3) positioned around the inner space (6); an inner unit (4) positioned in the inner space (6) and having a melting chamber (5) for a metal to be melted and operating in conjunction with the inductive thermal unit (3) in such a way that a heating of the inner unit (4) by the inductive thermal unit (3) causes the melting of the metal in the melting pot (5). In particular, the melting chamber (5) has an opening (11) for loading and unloading the metal. The inner unit (4) is rotatably mounted in a motor-driven fashion on the outer unit (2) about an axis of rotation (Z) suitable for mixing the metal contained in the melting chamber (5). Moreover, the outer unit (2) has rotatable supporting means (21) defining a tilting axis (Y) perpendicular to the axis of rotation (Z) and suitable for unloading liquid metal from the melting chamber (5).

A method and plant for gold recovery from any gold-bearing ore by low-temperature chlorination, wherein the finely-divided gold-bearing feedstock is chlorinated gaseous chlorine at a temperature of about 245 C. to form a highly volatile chloride compound, which after leaving a reactor is directed to a low-temperature nitrogen plasma unit having a temperature of 900-1100 C., wherein the said compound decomposes and turns into high-purity gold powder, which is cooled with gaseous nitrogen at a cooling reactor's inlet, which is equipped with a water chamber, and collected in a dumping hopper. Some embodiments allow recovery of high-purity 999.9 fine gold using an environmentally friendly, cost effective and inexpensive method implemented on an industrial scale.

A method and plant for gold recovery from any gold-bearing ore by low-temperature chlorination, wherein the finely-divided gold-bearing feedstock is chlorinated gaseous chlorine at a temperature of about 245 C. to form a highly volatile chloride compound, which after leaving a reactor is directed to a low-temperature nitrogen plasma unit having a temperature of 900-1100 C., wherein the said compound decomposes and turns into high-purity gold powder, which is cooled with gaseous nitrogen at a cooling reactor's inlet, which is equipped with a water chamber, and collected in a dumping hopper. Some embodiments allow recovery of high-purity 999.9 fine gold using an environmentally friendly, cost effective and inexpensive method implemented on an industrial scale.

The present disclosure provides an apparatus for treatment of mined material. The apparatus comprises a source for generating electromagnetic radiation and a microwave inlet region for exposing fragments of the mined material to the electromagnetic radiation. Further, the apparatus comprises a reflective structure adjacent the microwave inlet region and providing, or surrounding, a passage for guiding the fragments of the mined material to the microwave inlet region. The reflective structure is arranged to attenuate penetration of the electromagnetic radiation from the microwave inlet region into the passage during throughput of the fragments of the mined material.

The present disclosure provides an apparatus for treatment of mined material. The apparatus comprises a source for generating electromagnetic radiation and a microwave inlet region for exposing fragments of the mined material to the electromagnetic radiation. Further, the apparatus comprises a reflective structure adjacent the microwave inlet region and providing, or surrounding, a passage for guiding the fragments of the mined material to the microwave inlet region. The reflective structure is arranged to attenuate penetration of the electromagnetic radiation from the microwave inlet region into the passage during throughput of the fragments of the mined material.

A method and plant for gold recovery from any gold-bearing ore by low-temperature chlorination, wherein the finely-divided gold-bearing feedstock is chlorinated gaseous chlorine at a temperature of about 245 C. to form a highly volatile chloride compound, which after leaving a reactor is directed to a low-temperature nitrogen plasma unit having a temperature of 900-1100 C., wherein the said compound decomposes and turns into high-purity gold powder, which is cooled with gaseous nitrogen at a cooling reactor's inlet, which is equipped with a water chamber, and collected in a dumping hopper. Some embodiments allow recovery of high-purity 999.9 fine gold using an environmentally friendly, cost effective and inexpensive method implemented on an industrial scale.

The invention relates to a process for treating, with a plasma, a composition comprising at least a first compound and a second compound, characterized in that said process comprises at least: generating, within an enclosure, a non-equilibrium plasma flow from a gas present in said enclosure, and treating the composition contained in said enclosure with said non-equilibrium plasma flow so as to extract at least a portion of said first compound.