The subject invention provides safe, environmentally-friendly, compositions and methods for extracting minerals and/or metals from ore. More specifically, the subject invention provides for bioleaching using a composition comprising one or more biosurfactant-producing microorganisms and/or microbial growth by-products. In specific embodiments, the composition comprises biosurfactant-producing yeasts and/or their growth by-products.

The present disclosure generally relates to processes for the reduction of transition metals using alkali metals to produce reduced transition metals.

The present disclosure generally relates to processes for the reduction of transition metals using alkali metals to produce reduced transition metals.

A method for recovering iron and valuable metals from electric arc furnace dust includes: an electric arc furnace dust treatment process of treating electric arc furnace dust to produce an intermediate product containing iron; an intermediate product treatment process of heating the intermediate product to a predetermined temperature range so that the intermediate product charged into a melting furnace is melted and reduced; and a recovery process of recovering metallic iron produced by reduction from the intermediate product and recovering valuable metals generated in the form of dust. The intermediate product treatment process includes a reducing agent charging process of charging a reducing agent containing carbon into the melting furnace to increase an amount of the metallic iron reduced from the intermediate product. The reducing agent is charged into the melting furnace at an equivalent ratio of 1.7:1 to 3.1:1 relative to iron oxide contained in the intermediate product.

A method for recovering iron and valuable metals from electric arc furnace dust includes: an electric arc furnace dust treatment process of treating electric arc furnace dust to produce an intermediate product containing iron; an intermediate product treatment process of heating the intermediate product to a predetermined temperature range so that the intermediate product charged into a melting furnace is melted and reduced; and a recovery process of recovering metallic iron produced by reduction from the intermediate product and recovering valuable metals generated in the form of dust. The intermediate product treatment process includes a reducing agent charging process of charging a reducing agent containing carbon into the melting furnace to increase an amount of the metallic iron reduced from the intermediate product. The reducing agent is charged into the melting furnace at an equivalent ratio of 1.7:1 to 3.1:1 relative to iron oxide contained in the intermediate product.

A process for recovering non-ferrous metals from a solid matrix may include: leaching the solid matrix with an aqueous-based solution, in a presence of oxygen, to obtain an extraction solution including leached metals and solid leaching residue; separating the solid leaching residue from the extraction solution; and subjecting the extraction solution to at least one cementation to recover the leached metals in elemental state. The leaching solution may include chloride ions. The leaching solution may further include ammonium ions. A pH of the leaching solution may be greater than or equal to 6.5 and less than or equal to 8.5. A leaching temperature may be greater than or equal to 100 C. and less than or equal to 160 C. A leaching pressure may be greater than or equal to 150 kPa and less than or equal to 800 kPa.

A method of recovering metal values from metal-bearing materials such as slags and drosses includes the steps of pulverizing the material to particles less than about 100 m; leaching the pulverized material with a solution of ammonium chloride, sodium chloride, and potassium chloride; sequentially recovering at least two metals from the leachate by the addition of zinc using a sequential cementation process; and recovering zinc from the solution by electrowinning.

A method of recovering metal values from metal-bearing materials such as slags and drosses includes the steps of pulverizing the material to particles less than about 100 m; leaching the pulverized material with a solution of ammonium chloride, sodium chloride, and potassium chloride; sequentially recovering at least two metals from the leachate by the addition of zinc using a sequential cementation process; and recovering zinc from the solution by electrowinning.

Carbothermic reduction of magnesium oxide at approximately 2200 degrees Kelvin yields a high temperature mixture of magnesium vapors and carbon monoxide gas. Previous processes have sought to cool or alter the mixture to cause the yield of pure magnesium, which is then used in subsequent processes for its reducing properties. The present invention takes advantage of the stability and inertness of carbon monoxide at elevated temperatures enabling the magnesium vapor/carbon monoxide gas mixture from the carbothermic process to be used directly for the production of other metals at high temperatures. For example, Chromium oxide or chloride, manganese oxide or chloride, zinc oxide or chloride or sulfide, and several other metal compounds can be reduced by the magnesium vapor/carbon monoxide gas mixture at temperatures high enough to prevent the gas mixture from back-reacting to magnesium oxide and carbon.

Carbothermic reduction of magnesium oxide at approximately 2200 degrees Kelvin yields a high temperature mixture of magnesium vapors and carbon monoxide gas. Previous processes have sought to cool or alter the mixture to cause the yield of pure magnesium, which is then used in subsequent processes for its reducing properties. The present invention takes advantage of the stability and inertness of carbon monoxide at elevated temperatures enabling the magnesium vapor/carbon monoxide gas mixture from the carbothermic process to be used directly for the production of other metals at high temperatures. For example, Chromium oxide or chloride, manganese oxide or chloride, zinc oxide or chloride or sulfide, and several other metal compounds can be reduced by the magnesium vapor/carbon monoxide gas mixture at temperatures high enough to prevent the gas mixture from back-reacting to magnesium oxide and carbon.