Various configurations of a power plant are described. The power plant is configured to supply power to a receiving electrical grid by the combustion of metal powder. The power plant is also configured absorb power by recovering the metal powder from the metal oxide produced by the combustion of the metal powder, with electricity from a source electrical grid.

Various configurations of a power plant are described. The power plant is configured to supply power to a receiving electrical grid by the combustion of metal powder. The power plant is also configured absorb power by recovering the metal powder from the metal oxide produced by the combustion of the metal powder, with electricity from a source electrical grid.

Embodiments described herein relate to methods of metal extraction from their ores and conversion of ores to metal carbonates for chemical storage of Carbon dioxide in mineral form. In some embodiments, metal alloys are produced directly by co-extraction of metals from a combination of the ores of respective metals in the alloy or from a combination of the oxides of respective metals.

Embodiments described herein relate to methods of metal extraction from their ores and conversion of ores to metal carbonates for chemical storage of Carbon dioxide in mineral form. In some embodiments, metal alloys are produced directly by co-extraction of metals from a combination of the ores of respective metals in the alloy or from a combination of the oxides of respective metals.

A method is provided for leaching the metals while granulating molten matte, comprising the steps of feeding a molten matte as a falling stream into a granulation chamber, spraying a liquid jet on the stream of molten matte to atomize the matte, and cooling the matte particles thus formed. The liquid jet comprises an acid solution containing water and sulfuric acid so that the acid solution starts leaching metals from the molten matte when the liquid jet contacts the molten matte. Part of product solution from granulation can be circulated to liquid jets to increase the metal content in the solution and to reduce its acid con-tent.

A method is provided for leaching the metals while granulating molten matte, comprising the steps of feeding a molten matte as a falling stream into a granulation chamber, spraying a liquid jet on the stream of molten matte to atomize the matte, and cooling the matte particles thus formed. The liquid jet comprises an acid solution containing water and sulfuric acid so that the acid solution starts leaching metals from the molten matte when the liquid jet contacts the molten matte. Part of product solution from granulation can be circulated to liquid jets to increase the metal content in the solution and to reduce its acid con-tent.

A method of forming a metal alloy. The method comprises forming a metal oxide precursor and conducting cathodic polarization of the metal oxide precursor in a molten salt electrolyte to form a metal alloy. In an additional method, a metal oxide precursor is formed. The metal oxide precursor is reduced to a metal in an electrochemical cell that comprises a working electrode, a counter electrode, and an electrolyte. The metal is reacted with a metal of the working electrode to form a metal alloy. In another method, a metal oxide precursor is formed on a base material. The base material is introduced into a molten salt electrolyte of an electrochemical cell and the metal oxide precursor is reduced to a metal in the electrochemical cell. The metal is reacted with the base material to form a metal alloy on the base material.

A method of forming a metal alloy. The method comprises forming a metal oxide precursor and conducting cathodic polarization of the metal oxide precursor in a molten salt electrolyte to form a metal alloy. In an additional method, a metal oxide precursor is formed. The metal oxide precursor is reduced to a metal in an electrochemical cell that comprises a working electrode, a counter electrode, and an electrolyte. The metal is reacted with a metal of the working electrode to form a metal alloy. In another method, a metal oxide precursor is formed on a base material. The base material is introduced into a molten salt electrolyte of an electrochemical cell and the metal oxide precursor is reduced to a metal in the electrochemical cell. The metal is reacted with the base material to form a metal alloy on the base material.

A method for recovering metals from tungsten-containing metallic materials includes the steps of: providing a cathode and the tungsten-containing metallic material as an anode in an electrolyte solution which has a neutral, acidic or basic pH value; and subjecting the tungsten-containing metallic material to an electrolysis process under a power density that is greater than 3 W/cm.sup.2 on the anode so that a passivation layer formed on the anode during the electrolysis process is broken down to permit the tungsten-containing metallic material to be continuously dissolved and oxidized, and a tungsten-containing compound is formed in the electrolyte solution.

A method for recovering metals from tungsten-containing metallic materials includes the steps of: providing a cathode and the tungsten-containing metallic material as an anode in an electrolyte solution which has a neutral, acidic or basic pH value; and subjecting the tungsten-containing metallic material to an electrolysis process under a power density that is greater than 3 W/cm.sup.2 on the anode so that a passivation layer formed on the anode during the electrolysis process is broken down to permit the tungsten-containing metallic material to be continuously dissolved and oxidized, and a tungsten-containing compound is formed in the electrolyte solution.