The invention provides a method for the recovery of a metal-containing product (M.sub.Prod) comprising: providing a composite material comprising a matrix of oxidised reductant (R.sub.o), a product metal (M.sub.P) dispersed in the matrix of oxidised reductant (R.sub.o), and one or more metal compounds (M.sub.PC.sub.R) of the product metal (M.sub.P) in one or more oxidation states dispersed in the matrix of oxidised reductant (R.sub.o); and treating the composite material to at least partially remove the one or more metal compounds (M.sub.PC.sub.R) from the matrix of oxidised reductant (Ro) to form the metal-containing product (M.sub.Prod).

The invention provides a method for the recovery of a metal-containing product (M.sub.Prod) comprising: providing a composite material comprising a matrix of oxidised reductant (R.sub.o), a product metal (M.sub.P) dispersed in the matrix of oxidised reductant (R.sub.o), and one or more metal compounds (M.sub.PC.sub.R) of the product metal (M.sub.P) in one or more oxidation states dispersed in the matrix of oxidised reductant (R.sub.o); and treating the composite material to at least partially remove the one or more metal compounds (M.sub.PC.sub.R) from the matrix of oxidised reductant (Ro) to form the metal-containing product (M.sub.Prod).

The present invention provides an apparatus for preparing a metal based on solar energy thermal reduction. The apparatus includes a solar energy collection and photothermal conversion system and a thermal reduction system. The solar energy collection and photothermal conversion system includes: a solar energy collection device (1), a solar energy concentration device (2), and a solar energy transfer device (3) or a photothermal conversion and transfer device. The thermal reduction system includes: a metal reduction chamber (15), an electric field and/or magnetic field generation device (15-3), and a separation and cooling device (15-4). The solar energy collection and photothermal conversion system transfers sunlight or heat to the metal reduction chamber to decompose a metal oxide, and a product resulted from the decomposition is dissociated under the effect of an electric field/magnetic field, and a liquid metal is obtained upon cooling. The apparatus further includes a waste heat recovery and recycle system. According to the present invention, the metal oxide is heated and decomposed by directly using the solar energy, which improves energy utilization rate, greatly prevents environmental pollution and energy waste, and has a great application prospect.

The invention provides a method for the recovery of a metal-containing product (M.sub.Prod) comprising: providing a composite material comprising a matrix of oxidised reductant (R.sub.o), a product metal (M.sub.P) dispersed in the matrix of oxidised reductant (R.sub.o), and one or more metal compounds (M.sub.PC.sub.R) of the product metal (M.sub.P) in one or more oxidation states dispersed in the matrix of oxidised reductant (R.sub.o); and treating the composite material to at least partially remove the one or more metal compounds (M.sub.PC.sub.R) from the matrix of oxidised reductant (Ro) to form the metal-containing product (M.sub.Prod).

The invention provides a method for the recovery of a metal-containing product (M.sub.Prod) comprising: providing a composite material comprising a matrix of oxidised reductant (R.sub.o), a product metal (M.sub.P) dispersed in the matrix of oxidised reductant (R.sub.o), and one or more metal compounds (M.sub.PC.sub.R) of the product metal (M.sub.P) in one or more oxidation states dispersed in the matrix of oxidised reductant (R.sub.o); and treating the composite material to at least partially remove the one or more metal compounds (M.sub.PC.sub.R) from the matrix of oxidised reductant (Ro) to form the metal-containing product (M.sub.Prod).

The invention provides a method for the recovery of a metal-containing product (M.sub.Prod) comprising: providing a composite material comprising a matrix of oxidised reductant (R.sub.o), a product metal (M.sub.P) dispersed in the matrix of oxidised reductant (R.sub.o), and one or more metal compounds (M.sub.PC.sub.R) of the product metal (M.sub.P) in one or more oxidation states dispersed in the matrix of oxidised reductant (R.sub.o); and treating the composite material to at least partially remove the one or more metal compounds (M.sub.PC.sub.R) from the matrix of oxidised reductant (R.sub.o) to form the metal-containing product (M.sub.Prod).

The invention provides a method for the recovery of a metal-containing product (M.sub.Prod) comprising: providing a composite material comprising a matrix of oxidised reductant (R.sub.o), a product metal (M.sub.P) dispersed in the matrix of oxidised reductant (R.sub.o), and one or more metal compounds (M.sub.PC.sub.R) of the product metal (M.sub.P) in one or more oxidation states dispersed in the matrix of oxidised reductant (R.sub.o); and treating the composite material to at least partially remove the one or more metal compounds (M.sub.PC.sub.R) from the matrix of oxidised reductant (R.sub.o) to form the metal-containing product (M.sub.Prod).

A geothermally powered aluminum production subsystem includes a geothermal system with a wellbore extending from a surface into an underground magma reservoir. A hopper receives a bauxite ore that is crushed and provided to a digestor. The digestor is heated by a heat transfer fluid heated by the geothermal system, and a product of the digestor is used to prepare aluminum.

A geothermally powered aluminum production subsystem includes a geothermal system with a wellbore extending from a surface into an underground magma reservoir. A hopper receives a bauxite ore that is crushed and provided to a digestor. The digestor is heated by a heat transfer fluid heated by the geothermal system, and a product of the digestor is used to prepare aluminum.

Systems and methods for recovering material from a gas phase are provided. Exemplary systems include a moving bed of particles onto which material can be deposited. The systems can operate in a continuous or semi-continuous mode.