The present invention provides an apparatus (10j) and method for separating different
chemical species from each other when they are suspended or entrained in
liquid metal as
solid particles. The apparatus (10j) comprises a vessel (2) for containing
liquid metal. The vessel (2) is continuously axially symmetric about a longitudinal axis (Z), and at least part of it tapers to an apex. The vessel (2) comprises an inlet (4) for the
liquid metal having suspended or entrained therein, particles of a plurality of different
chemical species of respectively different densities each in
solid phase, an underflow outlet (5) for the liquid
metal with a majority of particles of a first, denser one of the plurality of different
chemical species suspended or entrained therein, and an overflow outlet (6) for the liquid
metal with a majority of particles of a second, less dense one of the plurality of different chemical species suspended or entrained therein. The underflow outlet (5) is nearer to the apex of the vessel (2) than the overflow outlet (6). The apparatus (10j) also comprises a first
electrode (12) coaxial with the longitudinal axis (Z) of the vessel (2), one or more second electrodes (14) spaced apart from the first
electrode (12), and a source (17) of a
magnetic field. The first and one or more second electrodes (12, 14) each have a
magnetic susceptibility with an absolute value of less than 10-2 to avoid disturbing the
magnetic field. They are arranged within the vessel (2) to be immersed in the liquid
metal when the vessel (2) contains the same, thereby allowing an
electrical current (I) to flow through the liquid metal between the first and one or more second electrodes (12, 14). The
magnetic field has a major component which is substantially perpendicular to the flow of
electrical current (I) through the liquid metal between the first and one or more second electrodes (12, 14). This generates a
Lorentz force acting on the liquid metal, causing it to rotate around the longitudinal axis (Z) of the vessel (2). The method may be conducted using such an apparatus. The speed of rotation of the liquid metal is varied by altering the
Lorentz force acting on it until the liquid metal forms a vortex inside the vessel (2), which separates the particles of the different chemical species from each other and directs them to a respective one of the underflow or overflow outlets according to their different densities. If the different chemical species also have different magnetic susceptibilities from each other, the magnetic field can act directly on the particles as well in different manners according to their different susceptibilities, thus enhancing their separation according to their different densities. For example, the liquid metal may comprise liquid
sodium and the
solid particles may comprise the insoluble reaction products from a
redox reaction between the liquid
sodium and an ore of iron and / or of
manganese, in which the liquid
sodium acts on the ore as a chemical
reducing agent and excess unreacted liquid sodium acts as a
transport medium for the insoluble reaction products.