The invention generally relates to systems and methods for producing metal clusters; functionalized surfaces; and droplets including solvated metal ions. In certain aspects, the invention provides methods that involve providing a metal and a solvent. The methods additionally involve applying voltage to the solvated metal to thereby produce solvent droplets including ions of the metal containing compound, and directing the solvent droplets including the metal ions to a target. In certain embodiments, once at the target, the metal ions can react directly or catalyze reactions.

The invention generally relates to systems and methods for producing metal clusters; functionalized surfaces; and droplets including solvated metal ions. In certain aspects, the invention provides methods that involve providing a metal and a solvent. The methods additionally involve applying voltage to the solvated metal to thereby produce solvent droplets including ions of the metal containing compound, and directing the solvent droplets including the metal ions to a target. In certain embodiments, once at the target, the metal ions can react directly or catalyze reactions.

This invention relates generally to novel methods and novel devices for the continuous manufacture of nanoparticles, microparticles and nanoparticle/liquid solution(s) (e.g., colloids). The nanoparticles (and/or micron-sized particles) comprise a variety of possible compositions, sizes and shapes. The particles (e.g., nanoparticles) are caused to be present (e.g., created and/or the liquid is predisposed to their presence (e.g., conditioned)) in a liquid (e.g., water) by, for example, preferably utilizing at least one adjustable plasma (e.g., created by at least one AC and/or DC power source), which plasma communicates with at least a portion of a surface of the liquid. At least one subsequent and/or substantially simultaneous adjustable electrochemical processing technique is also preferred. Multiple adjustable plasmas and/or adjustable electrochemical processing techniques are preferred. Processing enhancers can be utilized alone or with a plasma. Semicontinuous and batch processes can also be utilized. The continuous processes cause at least one liquid to flow into, through and out of at least one trough member, such liquid being processed, conditioned and/or effected in said trough member(s). Results include constituents formed in the liquid including ions, micron-sized particles and/or nanoparticles (e.g., metallic-based nanoparticles) of novel size, shape, composition, concentration, zeta potential and certain other novel properties present in a liquid.

This invention relates generally to novel methods and novel devices for the continuous manufacture of nanoparticles, microparticles and nanoparticle/liquid solution(s) (e.g., colloids). The nanoparticles (and/or micron-sized particles) comprise a variety of possible compositions, sizes and shapes. The particles (e.g., nanoparticles) are caused to be present (e.g., created and/or the liquid is predisposed to their presence (e.g., conditioned)) in a liquid (e.g., water) by, for example, preferably utilizing at least one adjustable plasma (e.g., created by at least one AC and/or DC power source), which plasma communicates with at least a portion of a surface of the liquid. At least one subsequent and/or substantially simultaneous adjustable electrochemical processing technique is also preferred. Multiple adjustable plasmas and/or adjustable electrochemical processing techniques are preferred. Processing enhancers can be utilized alone or with a plasma. Semicontinuous and batch processes can also be utilized. The continuous processes cause at least one liquid to flow into, through and out of at least one trough member, such liquid being processed, conditioned and/or effected in said trough member(s). Results include constituents formed in the liquid including ions, micron-sized particles and/or nanoparticles (e.g., metallic-based nanoparticles) of novel size, shape, composition, concentration, zeta potential and certain other novel properties present in a liquid.

A method for making a porous metal article of manufacture is provided. The method includes subjecting a saturated aqueous electrolytic solution wherein silver or copper is a donor in a container with two electrodes, where dendrite crystals of silver or copper or silver or copper nanowires are formed and collected. The collected dendrite crystals or nanowires are pressed and sintered, thereafter cooled to room temperature at room temperature and finally pressing the cooled geometric shape to form the porous silver metal article of manufacture. The collected dendrites crystals or nanowires also can be pressed in a carbon based mold or, alternatively, a non-carbon based mold and in vacuum, sintered, cooled to room temperature.

A method for making a porous metal article of manufacture is provided. The method includes subjecting a saturated aqueous electrolytic solution wherein silver or copper is a donor in a container with two electrodes, where dendrite crystals of silver or copper or silver or copper nanowires are formed and collected. The collected dendrite crystals or nanowires are pressed and sintered, thereafter cooled to room temperature at room temperature and finally pressing the cooled geometric shape to form the porous silver metal article of manufacture. The collected dendrites crystals or nanowires also can be pressed in a carbon based mold or, alternatively, a non-carbon based mold and in vacuum, sintered, cooled to room temperature.

Provided is a recovery method for valuable metals in copper anode slime. By using the recovery method of the disclosure, selenium, copper, tellurium, arsenic, lead, bismuth, and precious metals gold and silver in the copper anode slime are recovered. The method adopts two-step vacuum carbothermal reduction to replace reduction smelting of anode slime and stepwise blowing of noble lead in the traditional pyrometallurgy, and avoids the emission of arsenic-containing soot in the traditional process. The recovered gold-rich residue contains almost no base metals such as lead, bismuth, antimony, and arsenic. After subjecting the gold-rich residue to leaching gold by chlorination and reduction, a gold powder could be obtained therefrom with a lower content of base metals than traditional processes. Therefore, the method greatly reduces the amount of produced slag, shortens the production cycle, and reduces the loss of precious metals in the slag.

Provided is a recovery method for valuable metals in copper anode slime. By using the recovery method of the disclosure, selenium, copper, tellurium, arsenic, lead, bismuth, and precious metals gold and silver in the copper anode slime are recovered. The method adopts two-step vacuum carbothermal reduction to replace reduction smelting of anode slime and stepwise blowing of noble lead in the traditional pyrometallurgy, and avoids the emission of arsenic-containing soot in the traditional process. The recovered gold-rich residue contains almost no base metals such as lead, bismuth, antimony, and arsenic. After subjecting the gold-rich residue to leaching gold by chlorination and reduction, a gold powder could be obtained therefrom with a lower content of base metals than traditional processes. Therefore, the method greatly reduces the amount of produced slag, shortens the production cycle, and reduces the loss of precious metals in the slag.

An electrochemical system for selective recovery of gold from electronic waste and mining streams includes a vessel configured for flow of fluid therethrough, a working electrode positioned in the vessel, where the working electrode comprises a redox-active metallopolymer, and a counter electrode spaced apart from the working electrode in the vessel. An electrochemical method for selective gold recovery includes selectively electrochemically adsorbing gold complexes from a leach solution onto a redox-active metallopolymer, and electrochemically releasing the gold complexes from the redox-active metallopolymer into a collection fluid.

An electrochemical system for selective recovery of gold from electronic waste and mining streams includes a vessel configured for flow of fluid therethrough, a working electrode positioned in the vessel, where the working electrode comprises a redox-active metallopolymer, and a counter electrode spaced apart from the working electrode in the vessel. An electrochemical method for selective gold recovery includes selectively electrochemically adsorbing gold complexes from a leach solution onto a redox-active metallopolymer, and electrochemically releasing the gold complexes from the redox-active metallopolymer into a collection fluid.