This invention relates to a method of carbothermic process of magnesium production and co-production of calcium carbide, which is particularly suitable for carbothermic process of magnesium production with a mixture of magnesium oxide and calcium oxide as a raw material and carbon as a reducing agent. A mixed powder containing magnesium oxide, calcium oxide and a carbon reducing agent is prepared. The mixed powder is processed into a pelletized furnace feed material, which is placed into a reactor equipped with a heat source. With an absolute pressure P in the reactor being set within the range of 1000 Pa≤P≤atmospheric pressure or to a slightly positive pressure and a reaction temperature T within the range of 11 lg.sup.2P+71 lgP+1210° C.<T<98 lg.sup.2P-129 lgP+1300° C., a smelting reaction is run. Liquid magnesium is obtained through condensation by a condenser connected to the reactor, and after the smelting reaction has finished, calcium carbide is obtained within the reactor. With this method, a potential safety hazard in that a magnesium vapor produced during carbothermic magnesium production, when co-cooled with a CO gas, tends to give rise to a magnesium powder and cause an explosion can be completely avoided, and magnesium production cost can be significantly reduced. This method has a good prospect of industrial application.

A system and method that uses a high-temperature condenser to collect magnesium produced by thermal reduction, electrolysis, or distillation. The condenser is a common heat exchanger design (shell/tube, plate/plate, etc.) and uses a heat transfer fluid to cool and condense magnesium gas, e.g., to 200-900° C. under vacuum or pressure conditions. Solid or liquid magnesium is collected in the condenser along with any by-products or impurities at a purity greater than 35 wt-% Mg. Magnesium is subsequently liberated from the condenser by raising the temperature of the system, lowering the pressure, or both, to induce a phase change in the metal, such as melting or distillation, for further purification to, e.g., >90 wt-% Mg.

A system and method that uses a high-temperature condenser to collect magnesium produced by thermal reduction, electrolysis, or distillation. The condenser is a common heat exchanger design (shell/tube, plate/plate, etc.) and uses a heat transfer fluid to cool and condense magnesium gas, e.g., to 200-900° C. under vacuum or pressure conditions. Solid or liquid magnesium is collected in the condenser along with any by-products or impurities at a purity greater than 35 wt-% Mg. Magnesium is subsequently liberated from the condenser by raising the temperature of the system, lowering the pressure, or both, to induce a phase change in the metal, such as melting or distillation, for further purification to, e.g., >90 wt-% Mg.

A method of midstream production of Ge and Ga from an REE extraction process is compatible with downstream industrial processes, and may produce Ge and Ga that is 90% pure as oxides, salts, or metals. A method for producing critical minerals includes vaporizing a feedstock comprising the critical minerals; cooling the vaporized feedstock to a condensation temperature of a critical mineral; and capturing the condensed critical mineral. Systems and methods disclosed herein for producing critical minerals are integrated into a rare earth extraction process to co-produce germanium and gallium concentrates.

Methods and systems for separating a first metal from a metal-containing feed stream are provided. The method can include applying solar energy, for example, by focusing one or more mirrors in one or more heliostats, to heat a metal-containing feed stream in a heating zone to a first temperature to produce a first vapor including the first metal. The first vapor can be condensed in a condensation zone to produce a first liquid including the first metal, and the first liquid can be collected. The system can include a separation unit include a heating zone in fluid communication with a condensation zone and a means for applying solar energy to heat a metal-containing feed stream disposed in the heating zone.

Disclosed is a single-chamber furnace for fuming an evaporable metal or metal compound from a metallurgical charge including a bath furnace for containing a molten charge up to a determined level, the furnace being equipped with a non-transferred plasma torch for the generation of plasma and a first submerged injector for injecting the plasma below the determined level, the furnace further including an afterburning zone to form an oxidized form of the at least one evaporable metal or metal compound, and a recovery zone for recovering the oxidized form from the gas formed in the afterburning zone, whereby the furnace is further equipped with a second submerged injector for injecting extra gas into the furnace below the determined level. Further disclosed is the use of the furnace and a process for fuming an evaporable metal or metal compound from a metallurgical charge.

Disclosed is a single-chamber furnace for fuming an evaporable metal or metal compound from a metallurgical charge including a bath furnace for containing a molten charge up to a determined level, the furnace being equipped with a non-transferred plasma torch for the generation of plasma and a first submerged injector for injecting the plasma below the determined level, the furnace further including an afterburning zone to form an oxidized form of the at least one evaporable metal or metal compound, and a recovery zone for recovering the oxidized form from the gas formed in the afterburning zone, whereby the furnace is further equipped with a second submerged injector for injecting extra gas into the furnace below the determined level. Further disclosed is the use of the furnace and a process for fuming an evaporable metal or metal compound from a metallurgical charge.

One object of the present disclosure is to provide a production method of magnesium hydride that is free of carbon dioxide and has high production efficiency, a power generation system that does not emit carbon dioxide or radiation using magnesium hydride, and an apparatus for producing magnesium hydride; therefore, the method for producing magnesium hydride of the present disclosure comprises a procedure for irradiating a magnesium compound different from magnesium hydride with hydrogen plasma, and a procedure for depositing a magnesium product containing magnesium hydride on a depositor for depositing magnesium hydride disposed within the range in which hydrogen plasma is present, wherein the surface temperature of the depositor is kept no more than a predetermined temperature at which magnesium hydride precipitates.

Methods and systems for separating a first metal from a metal-containing feed stream are provided. The method can include applying solar energy, for example, by focusing one or more mirrors in one or more heliostats, to heat a metal-containing feed stream in a heating zone to a first temperature to produce a first vapor including the first metal. The first vapor can be condensed in a condensation zone to produce a first liquid including the first metal, and the first liquid can be collected. The system can include a separation unit include a heating zone in fluid communication with a condensation zone and a means for applying solar energy to heat a metal-containing feed stream disposed in the heating zone.

A method for preparing a high-purity metal lithium by a vacuum thermal reduction method includes the following steps: obtaining Li.sub.2O.(2-x)CaO by carrying a vacuum thermal decomposition process on a lithium-containing raw material in the presence of a refractory agent and a catalyst; mixing the obtained oxide with the fluxing agent, the catalyst and a reducing agent according to a certain ratio, and then briquetting; carrying out vacuum thermal reduction in a vacuum reduction furnace, and performing centrifugal sedimentation and micron ceramic dust removal on lithium vapor obtained by the thermal reduction to obtain a high-purity metal gas; and removing metal impurities from the gas by controlling a condensation temperature and a condensation speed of the gas so as to purify the lithium vapor, and obtaining a high-purity metal lithium with a rapid cooling technology.