Described are methods for the recovery of uranium from uranium hexafluoride dissolved directly into ionic liquids.

System for, and methods of, recovering precious metals from precious metals-containing solids are described herein. Methods for the recovery of precious metals from precious metals-containing solids heating a salt mixture to form a molten salt mixture, adding a precious metals-containing solid to the molten salt mixture to form a molten salt/precious metals-containing solids mixture, adding an oxidizing agent to the molten salt/precious metals-containing solids mixture, forming a liquid solution from molten salt/precious metals-containing solids mixture, the liquid solution comprising soluble precious metal salts, and subjecting the liquid solution to an electrodeposition process to form purified precious metals. Systems for, and methods of, recovery precious metals from precious metals-containing solids allow for the recovery of salt mixtures and reuse of the salt mixtures in subsequent precious metals recovery operations.

System for, and methods of, recovering precious metals from precious metals-containing solids are described herein. Methods for the recovery of precious metals from precious metals-containing solids heating a salt mixture to form a molten salt mixture, adding a precious metals-containing solid to the molten salt mixture to form a molten salt/precious metals-containing solids mixture, adding an oxidizing agent to the molten salt/precious metals-containing solids mixture, forming a liquid solution from molten salt/precious metals-containing solids mixture, the liquid solution comprising soluble precious metal salts, and subjecting the liquid solution to an electrodeposition process to form purified precious metals. Systems for, and methods of, recovery precious metals from precious metals-containing solids allow for the recovery of salt mixtures and reuse of the salt mixtures in subsequent precious metals recovery operations.

An apparatus, also named transfer box or TB, for conveying an anode assembly outside of an electrolyte cell is described. An apparatus, also named cell preheater lifting beam or CPLB, for conveying an anode assembly or a cell pre-heater outside of an electrolyte cell is also disclosed. TB and CPLB are conjointly used for starting up the electrolytic cell or for replacing a spent anode assembly while maintaining the production of non-ferrous metal, such as aluminum or aluminium. The thermal insulation of the TB allows maintaining the anode temperature homogeneity and preventing thermal shocks when introducing the inert anodes into the hot electrolytic bath. TN and CPLB allow accurate positioning of anode assemblies or cell-preheaters over the electrolysis cell before achieving mechanical and electrical connections of the anode assembly or the cell pre-heater to the electrolysis cell. Several related methods for the operation of an electrolytic cell are also disclosed.

An apparatus, also named transfer box or TB, for conveying an anode assembly outside of an electrolyte cell is described. An apparatus, also named cell preheater lifting beam or CPLB, for conveying an anode assembly or a cell pre-heater outside of an electrolyte cell is also disclosed. TB and CPLB are conjointly used for starting up the electrolytic cell or for replacing a spent anode assembly while maintaining the production of non-ferrous metal, such as aluminum or aluminium. The thermal insulation of the TB allows maintaining the anode temperature homogeneity and preventing thermal shocks when introducing the inert anodes into the hot electrolytic bath. TN and CPLB allow accurate positioning of anode assemblies or cell-preheaters over the electrolysis cell before achieving mechanical and electrical connections of the anode assembly or the cell pre-heater to the electrolysis cell. Several related methods for the operation of an electrolytic cell are also disclosed.

An environmentally friendly (e.g. no acid, base, or cyanide) system and process for large scale extraction of metal ion into aerobic molten salt (or ionic liquid) and the electrodeposition of metal (e.g. copper, gold, silver, etc.) from the metal ion dissolved in the molten salt. The non-volatile low vapor pressure liquid salt is reusable, and heat from the molten slag can heat the molten salts or ionic liquids. Another embodiment comprises a one-pot apparatus for the extraction of metal (e.g. copper) from metal earths and electrodepositing the metal using a low melting (209° C.) aerated Na—K—Zn chloride salt in which copper metal oxidizes and is converted to soluble copper chloride. When an electrical power supply is connected to the graphite vessel (cathode) and to copper rods in the melt (anodes), then the copper chloride is deposited as copper metal by electroreduction on the bottom of the graphite reaction vessel.

An environmentally friendly (e.g. no acid, base, or cyanide) system and process for large scale extraction of metal ion into aerobic molten salt (or ionic liquid) and the electrodeposition of metal (e.g. copper, gold, silver, etc.) from the metal ion dissolved in the molten salt. The non-volatile low vapor pressure liquid salt is reusable, and heat from the molten slag can heat the molten salts or ionic liquids. Another embodiment comprises a one-pot apparatus for the extraction of metal (e.g. copper) from metal earths and electrodepositing the metal using a low melting (209° C.) aerated Na—K—Zn chloride salt in which copper metal oxidizes and is converted to soluble copper chloride. When an electrical power supply is connected to the graphite vessel (cathode) and to copper rods in the melt (anodes), then the copper chloride is deposited as copper metal by electroreduction on the bottom of the graphite reaction vessel.

The present invention provides a molten-salt electrolytic refining apparatus for refining a raw-material alloy containing indium using a molten-salt electrolytic refining method. The molten-salt electrolytic refining apparatus includes a reaction crucible provided in a reaction container so as to be filled with a molten-salt electrolytic solution, an anode and a cathode immersed in the molten-salt electrolytic solution, an anode crucible in which a liquid raw-material alloy is contained, a cathode crucible in which at least one raw-material metal included in the raw-material alloy is recovered in a liquid phase, and a heater provided so that the temperature of the molten-salt electrolytic solution is adjusted to be equal to or greater than the melting temperature of the raw-material alloy. The present invention also provides a molten-salt electrolytic refining method which includes recovering indium (In) from an indium-tin (In—Sn) alloy using a molten-salt electrolytic solution containing fluoride.

The present invention provides a molten-salt electrolytic refining apparatus for refining a raw-material alloy containing indium using a molten-salt electrolytic refining method. The molten-salt electrolytic refining apparatus includes a reaction crucible provided in a reaction container so as to be filled with a molten-salt electrolytic solution, an anode and a cathode immersed in the molten-salt electrolytic solution, an anode crucible in which a liquid raw-material alloy is contained, a cathode crucible in which at least one raw-material metal included in the raw-material alloy is recovered in a liquid phase, and a heater provided so that the temperature of the molten-salt electrolytic solution is adjusted to be equal to or greater than the melting temperature of the raw-material alloy. The present invention also provides a molten-salt electrolytic refining method which includes recovering indium (In) from an indium-tin (In—Sn) alloy using a molten-salt electrolytic solution containing fluoride.

An electrolytic smelting system includes: an electrolytic smelting furnace including a furnace body to which a molten ore is introduced, a cathode substrate which is installed on a bottom portion in the furnace body, and an anode substrate which is positioned above the cathode substrate in the furnace body; an inert gas circulation unit including a circulation line to recover an inert gas supplied into the electrolytic smelting furnace together with oxygen and supply the inert gas to the molten ore; and an oxygen-removing unit which is installed in the circulation line and which removes oxygen from the circulation line.