Processing of mineral material containing precious metal with one or more sulfide minerals and non-sulfide gangue minerals including acid-consuming carbonate may include preparation of a sulfide concentrate by flotation with the flotation or conditioning prior to flotation using a gas comprising carbon dioxide. Flotation may be at an acidic pH without prior decomposition of the acid-consuming carbonate and may be without addition of acid for pH adjustment.

A process and an apparatus are disclosed for improved recovery of metal from hot and cold dross, wherein a dross-treating furnace is provided with a filling material with good capacity to store heat. This filling material is preheated to a desired temperature by injection of an oxidizing gas to burn non-recoverable metal remaining in the filling material after tapping of the recoverable metal contained in the dross and discharging of the treatment residue. When dross is treated in such furnace, the heat emanating by conduction from the filling material is sufficient to melt and separate the recoverable metal contained in the dross, without addition of an external heat source, such as fuel or gas burners, plasma torches or electric arcs and without use of any salt fluxes. Furthermore, the recovered metal being in the molten state can be fed to the molten metal holding furnace without cooling the melt; in addition, the non-use of fluxing salt for the treatment means that the non-contaminated residue can be used as a cover for the electrolytic cells in the case of aluminum. In the case of zinc dross, the residue is a valuable zinc oxide by-product very low in contaminants.

An apparatus for purifying sodium metal including: a top flange, a transparent slice, a hollow flange, a vacuum distillation kettle, gaskets, and bolts. With this apparatus, solid sodium is liquefied by heating. The volatile impurities contained in the liquid sodium metal evaporate out of the vacuum pump. After heating the liquid sodium to a high temperature, circulating cooling water is added to the condenser tube by radiation-auxiliary distillation. High-purity argon is then added to remove volatile impurities, and thermal radiation is performed to accelerate the evaporation rate at the surface of the liquid sodium. Consequently, gaseous sodium rapidly condenses on the condenser tube and becomes solid sodium.

An apparatus for purifying sodium metal including: a top flange, a transparent slice, a hollow flange, a vacuum distillation kettle, gaskets, and bolts. With this apparatus, solid sodium is liquefied by heating. The volatile impurities contained in the liquid sodium metal evaporate out of the vacuum pump. After heating the liquid sodium to a high temperature, circulating cooling water is added to the condenser tube by radiation-auxiliary distillation. High-purity argon is then added to remove volatile impurities, and thermal radiation is performed to accelerate the evaporation rate at the surface of the liquid sodium. Consequently, gaseous sodium rapidly condenses on the condenser tube and becomes solid sodium.

A method for recycling a scrap material includes providing a sample having one or more components having a respective melting temperature, and heating the sample to a first melting point corresponding to a first component to form a molten first component, and separating the molten first component from the sample. A system for recycling scrap materials includes a housing component for a sample containing one or more components to be heated, and subsequently melted and separated. The system may include a microwave plasma source, and at least one collection mechanism corresponding to each separated molten component.

[Problem] The present invention controls the composition of non-metallic inclusions that affect surface properties and provides Ni-based alloys with superior surface properties. [Solution] A Ni-based alloy consisting of: all by mass %, Ni: 52.0% or more, C: 0.001% to 0.030%, Si: 0.01 to 0.10%, Mn: 0.10 to 1.50%, P: 0.030% or less, S: 0.0050% or less, Cr: 13.0 to 25.0%, Mo: 10.0 to 18.0%, W: 1.00 to 5.00%, Cu: 1.00% or less, Co: 3.00% or less, Al: 0.001 to 0.170%, Fe: 2.00 to 8.00%, Mg: 0.0010 to 0.0200%, Ca: 0.0001 to 0.0040%, V: 0.500% or less, Nb: 0.001 to 0.100%, O: 0.0001 to 0.0050%, and balance of inevitable impurities; the alloy comprising non-metallic inclusions, wherein the non-metallic inclusions comprise one or more of MgO, CaO, CaOMgO-based oxides, CaOAl.sub.2O.sub.3MgO-based oxides, and MgO.Math.Al.sub.2O.sub.3, the MgO.Math.Al.sub.2O.sub.3 has a number ratio of 50% or less with respect to all oxide-based non-metallic inclusions.

[Problem] The present invention controls the composition of non-metallic inclusions that affect surface properties and provides Ni-based alloys with superior surface properties. [Solution] A Ni-based alloy consisting of: all by mass %, Ni: 52.0% or more, C: 0.001% to 0.030%, Si: 0.01 to 0.10%, Mn: 0.10 to 1.50%, P: 0.030% or less, S: 0.0050% or less, Cr: 13.0 to 25.0%, Mo: 10.0 to 18.0%, W: 1.00 to 5.00%, Cu: 1.00% or less, Co: 3.00% or less, Al: 0.001 to 0.170%, Fe: 2.00 to 8.00%, Mg: 0.0010 to 0.0200%, Ca: 0.0001 to 0.0040%, V: 0.500% or less, Nb: 0.001 to 0.100%, O: 0.0001 to 0.0050%, and balance of inevitable impurities; the alloy comprising non-metallic inclusions, wherein the non-metallic inclusions comprise one or more of MgO, CaO, CaOMgO-based oxides, CaOAl.sub.2O.sub.3MgO-based oxides, and MgO.Math.Al.sub.2O.sub.3, the MgO.Math.Al.sub.2O.sub.3 has a number ratio of 50% or less with respect to all oxide-based non-metallic inclusions.

The invention includes a method for treating a spent catalyst containing at least one refractory mineral oxide, one or more metals in the form of sulfide(s) chosen from the following metals: molybdenum, nickel, cobalt, tungsten, vanadium, and carbon compounds, the method comprising: a) in a smelting furnace preparing a melt of cast iron with a layer of slag; b) introducing into the furnace said spent catalyst and placing it in contact with the slag and the melt of cast iron, while maintaining the furnace in rotation and while injecting an oxidizing gas containing oxygen, above the mixture, to cause the combustion of the carbon and/or sulfur compounds; c) extracting from the furnace by sequential castings the slag formed in step b) to recover a cast iron melt enriched with metal or metals, and recover a slag containing the components of the catalyst other than metals, with the exception of vanadium.

The invention includes a method for treating a spent catalyst containing at least one refractory mineral oxide, one or more metals in the form of sulfide(s) chosen from the following metals: molybdenum, nickel, cobalt, tungsten, vanadium, and carbon compounds, the method comprising: a) in a smelting furnace preparing a melt of cast iron with a layer of slag; b) introducing into the furnace said spent catalyst and placing it in contact with the slag and the melt of cast iron, while maintaining the furnace in rotation and while injecting an oxidizing gas containing oxygen, above the mixture, to cause the combustion of the carbon and/or sulfur compounds; c) extracting from the furnace by sequential castings the slag formed in step b) to recover a cast iron melt enriched with metal or metals, and recover a slag containing the components of the catalyst other than metals, with the exception of vanadium.

There is disclosed a furnace, a fluid feed component, a fluid reforming system, and a method of reforming a fluid. The furnace comprises a vessel that defines a chamber for holding a body of liquid. A fluid inlet is provided for introducing a fluid into the chamber below a level of the body of liquid to cause the fluid to interact with the liquid and to migrate therethrough towards an outlet for discharging a product of the interaction from the chamber. A liquid circulation passage is implemented, having a weir which is operatively located near the level of the body of liquid, and a port which is located remote from the weir and in fluid communication with the fluid inlet so as to enable the liquid to flow over the weir through the liquid circulation passage and through the port.