Ultra-high-temperature continuous reduction of particles of metallic chemical compounds with subsequent selective separation

Abstract

A continuous process for converting metallic particles into a mixture of elemental metals. The metallic particles and a reducing agent are introduced into an ultra-high-temperature reaction zone, which has a temperature exceeding 2700°C and an oxygen content of less than 3% by volume. The metallic particles have a d90 particle size of 500 µm. Metallic chemical particles have a residence time in the ultra-high-temperature reaction zone of less than 1 minute, sufficient to mix and react with the reducing agent, reducing the metal particles to form a mixture of elemental metals. The mixture of elemental metals is removed from the ultra-high-temperature reaction zone. One or more elemental metals are separated or concentrated relative to a mixture of elemental metals in one or more separation zones based on the differing size and density of the one or more elemental metals and the remaining mixture of elemental metals.