Method to produce a polymeric product starting from a primary heterogeneous mixture comprising polymeric material, comprising fragmentation into desired sizing, mechanical primary selection of the fragmented material and plastification, obtaining a densified material which is then subjected to quenching.

A method and an industrial plant for separating a waste material comprises at least one metal and at least one organic material. A separated fraction of the waste material is provisioned which is isolated from the waste material in the course of a mechanical preparation operation. The separated fraction comprises briquettes produced from the waste material, and optionally a coarse fraction of the waste material or of another waste material. A reactor is charged with the separated fraction and gas containing oxygen is introduced into the reactor and the separated fraction is combusted in an incomplete combustion process. The separated fraction is melted into a liquid slag phase and into a liquid metal-containing phase. The slag phase and/or the metal-containing phase are poured off from the reactor.

A method for producing briquettes made of a waste material includes provisioning of at least one metal and at least one organic material. The waste material is mechanically prepared in a single or multiple stages and at least one first fraction of the waste material is separated. A briquette mixture containing the at least one first fraction is produced, wherein the at least one first fraction has a calorific value of 0 MJ/kg to 30 MJ/kg. A calorific value of the briquette mixture is adjusted by varying at least the first fraction. The briquette mixture is introduced into a briquetting device and pressed into briquettes. Briquettes with a calorific value of 5 MJ/kg to 30 MJ/kg and with a maximum copper content of 0.1 wt % to 20 wt % are produced.

Disclosed herein, in some aspects, are systems and methods for producing a material comprising iron through self-reduction of iron ore using bio-oil and/or other reducing agents (e.g., bio-based reducing agents), such as biocrude, ethanol, or other bio-based liquids or biologically sourced liquids. The bio-oil and/or other reducing agents can be mixed with the iron ore to form a furnace mixture, which can be heated, such that the components of the bio-oil and/or other reducing agents in the furnace mixture reduce the iron ore to form an iron product (e.g., a material that includes metallic iron). In some cases, the pre-formed furnace mixture allows for the reducing agents to interact with the iron more readily, thereby providing for quicker reaction rates, and thereby quicker reduction of iron ore, as compared to direct reduction iron production.

Devices, systems, and methods are directed at spreading sequential layers of powder across a powder bed and applying energy to each layer to form a three-dimensional object. The powder can include granules including agglomerations of metallic particles to facilitate spreading the metallic particles in each layer. The energy can be directed to the powder to reflow the granules in each layer to bind the metallic particles in the layer to one another and to one or more adjacent layers to form the three-dimensional object. Thus, in general, the agglomeration of the metallic particles in the granules can overcome constraints associated with metallic particles that are of a size ordinarily unsuitable for flowing and/or a size that presents safety risks. By overcoming these constraints, the granules can improve formation of dense finished parts from a powder and can result in formation of unique microstructures in finished parts.

A method for forming a foamy slag in an electric arc melting furnace during the production of a ferrous alloy may include: (a) melting a metal charge in the electric arc furnace to obtain a molten metal bath including a layer of a floating slag; (b) introducing a foamy slag forming agent into the furnace to foam the floating slag. The agent may be a composite material in granular form which includes at least one thermoplastic polymeric material and at least one biogenic carbonaceous material.

A method for producing a ferrous alloy may include: melting a ferrous metal charge in a metallurgical furnace to obtain a mass of molten metal; and feeding into the metallurgical furnace, before, during, and/or after the melting of the ferrous metal charge, at least one granular composite material including: greater than or equal to 50% and less than or equal to 97% by weight of a polymeric component including polyethylene; and greater than or equal to 3% and less than or equal to 50% by weight of metallic aluminum. The percentages by weight refer to a total weight of the polymeric component including polyethylene and the metallic aluminum.

Disclosed herein, in some aspects, are systems and methods for producing a material comprising iron through self-reduction of iron ore using bio-oil and/or other reducing agents (e.g., bio-based reducing agents), such as biocrude, ethanol, or other bio-based liquids or biologically sourced liquids. The bio-oil and/or other reducing agents can be mixed with the iron ore to form a furnace mixture, which can be heated, such that the components of the bio-oil and/or other reducing agents in the furnace mixture reduce the iron ore to form an iron product (e.g., a material that includes metallic iron). In some cases, the pre-formed furnace mixture allows for the reducing agents to interact with the iron more readily, thereby providing for quicker reaction rates, and thereby quicker reduction of iron ore, as compared to direct reduction iron production.

Disclosed herein, in some aspects, are systems and methods for producing a material comprising iron through self-reduction of iron ore using bio-oil and/or other reducing agents (e.g., bio-based reducing agents), such as biocrude, ethanol, or other bio-based liquids or biologically sourced liquids. The bio-oil and/or other reducing agents can be mixed with the iron ore to form a furnace mixture, which can be heated, such that the components of the bio-oil and/or other reducing agents in the furnace mixture reduce the iron ore to form an iron product (e.g., a material that includes metallic iron). In some cases, the pre-formed furnace mixture allows for the reducing agents to interact with the iron more readily, thereby providing for quicker reaction rates, and thereby quicker reduction of iron ore, as compared to direct reduction iron production.