An apparatus (1) for the production of iron through reduction of iron ore by an electrolysis reaction, wherein the supply to supply iron ore includes a twin-screw supplier (32) provided to discharge iron ore powder (46) into an electrolyte feed pipe (31) upstream of the electrolytic chamber (6).

A process of producing metal that includes adding a quantity of a alkoxide (M(OR).sub.x) or another metal salt to a cathode compartment of an electrolytic cell and electrolyzing the cell. This electrolyzing causes a quantity of alkali metal ions to migrate into the cathode compartment and react with the metal alkoxide, thereby producing metal and an alkali metal alkoxide. In some embodiments, the alkali metal is sodium such that the sodium ions will pass through a sodium ion selective membrane, such as a NaSICON membrane, into the cathode compartment.

A process of producing metal that includes adding a quantity of a alkoxide (M(OR).sub.x) or another metal salt to a cathode compartment of an electrolytic cell and electrolyzing the cell. This electrolyzing causes a quantity of alkali metal ions to migrate into the cathode compartment and react with the metal alkoxide, thereby producing metal and an alkali metal alkoxide. In some embodiments, the alkali metal is sodium such that the sodium ions will pass through a sodium ion selective membrane, such as a NaSICON membrane, into the cathode compartment.

A method of recovering metals from electronic waste comprises providing a powder comprising electronic waste in at least a first reactor and a second reactor and providing an electrolyte comprising at least ferric ions in an electrochemical cell in fluid communication with the first reactor and the second reactor. The method further includes contacting the powders within the first reactor and the second reactor with the electrolyte to dissolve at least one base metal from each reactor into the electrolyte and reduce at least some of the ferric ions to ferrous ions. The ferrous ions are oxidized at an anode of the electrochemical cell to regenerate the ferric ions. The powder within the second reactor comprises a higher weight percent of the at least one base metal than the powder in the first reactor. Additional methods of recovering metals from electronic waste are also described, as well as an apparatus of recovering metals from electronic waste.

A method of recovering metals from electronic waste comprises providing a powder comprising electronic waste in at least a first reactor and a second reactor and providing an electrolyte comprising at least ferric ions in an electrochemical cell in fluid communication with the first reactor and the second reactor. The method further includes contacting the powders within the first reactor and the second reactor with the electrolyte to dissolve at least one base metal from each reactor into the electrolyte and reduce at least some of the ferric ions to ferrous ions. The ferrous ions are oxidized at an anode of the electrochemical cell to regenerate the ferric ions. The powder within the second reactor comprises a higher weight percent of the at least one base metal than the powder in the first reactor. Additional methods of recovering metals from electronic waste are also described, as well as an apparatus of recovering metals from electronic waste.

A problem to be solved is to provide a method for regenerating plating liquid from plating waste liquid in a simple and easy way and a plating method utilizing the regenerating method.

A method for regenerating plating liquid from plating waste liquid that is produced as a result of performing a copper plating on steel and that contains respective ions of Fe, Cu and Sn comprises repetitively performing processing steps of applying electric current with the plating waste liquid 11 side taken as a cathode 15 and electrolytic solution 12 side taken as an anode 16 in the state that the plating waste liquid 11 and the electrolytic solution 12 are connected through an anion exchange membrane 13; separating copper by making a copper deposition electrode as a result of depositing copper on the cathode 15 being in contact with the plating waste liquid 11, to turn the plating waste liquid to processed remaining liquid; and using as the anode 16 a copper deposition electrode formed previously and dissolving copper in the electrolytic solution 12 to generate copper ion-containing solution.

A problem to be solved is to provide a method for regenerating plating liquid from plating waste liquid in a simple and easy way and a plating method utilizing the regenerating method.

A method for regenerating plating liquid from plating waste liquid that is produced as a result of performing a copper plating on steel and that contains respective ions of Fe, Cu and Sn comprises repetitively performing processing steps of applying electric current with the plating waste liquid 11 side taken as a cathode 15 and electrolytic solution 12 side taken as an anode 16 in the state that the plating waste liquid 11 and the electrolytic solution 12 are connected through an anion exchange membrane 13; separating copper by making a copper deposition electrode as a result of depositing copper on the cathode 15 being in contact with the plating waste liquid 11, to turn the plating waste liquid to processed remaining liquid; and using as the anode 16 a copper deposition electrode formed previously and dissolving copper in the electrolytic solution 12 to generate copper ion-containing solution.

A method of recovering metals from electronic waste comprises providing a powder comprising electronic waste in at least a first reactor and a second reactor and providing an electrolyte comprising at least ferric ions in an electrochemical cell in fluid communication with the first reactor and the second reactor. The method further includes contacting the powders within the first reactor and the second reactor with the electrolyte to dissolve at least one base metal from each reactor into the electrolyte and reduce at least some of the ferric ions to ferrous ions. The ferrous ions are oxidized at an anode of the electrochemical cell to regenerate the ferric ions. The powder within the second reactor comprises a higher weight percent of the at least one base metal than the powder in the first reactor. Additional methods of recovering metals from electronic waste are also described, as well as an apparatus of recovering metals from electronic waste.

A method of recovering metals from electronic waste comprises providing a powder comprising electronic waste in at least a first reactor and a second reactor and providing an electrolyte comprising at least ferric ions in an electrochemical cell in fluid communication with the first reactor and the second reactor. The method further includes contacting the powders within the first reactor and the second reactor with the electrolyte to dissolve at least one base metal from each reactor into the electrolyte and reduce at least some of the ferric ions to ferrous ions. The ferrous ions are oxidized at an anode of the electrochemical cell to regenerate the ferric ions. The powder within the second reactor comprises a higher weight percent of the at least one base metal than the powder in the first reactor. Additional methods of recovering metals from electronic waste are also described, as well as an apparatus of recovering metals from electronic waste.

A problem to be solved is to provide a method for regenerating plating liquid from plating waste liquid in a simple and easy way and a plating method utilizing the regenerating method. A method for regenerating plating liquid from plating waste liquid that is produced as a result of performing a copper plating on steel and that contains respective ions of Fe, Cu and Sn comprises repetitively performing processing steps of applying electric current with the plating waste liquid 11 side taken as a cathode 15 and electrolytic solution 12 side taken as an anode 16 in the state that the plating waste liquid 11 and the electrolytic solution 12 are connected through an anion exchange membrane 13; separating copper by making a copper deposition electrode as a result of depositing copper on the cathode 15 being in contact with the plating waste liquid 11, to turn the plating waste liquid to processed remaining liquid; and using as the anode 16 a copper deposition electrode formed previously and dissolving copper in the electrolytic solution 12 to generate copper ion-containing solution.