Ultra-high temperature continuous reduction of metal compound particles with subsequent selective separation

Abstract

A continuous process for converting metal compound particles into a mixture of elemental metals. Metal compound particles and a reductant are introduced into an ultra-high temperature reaction zone having a temperature greater than 2,700°° C. and an oxygen content less than 3 vol. %. The metal compound particles have particle sizes of d90 500 μm. The metal compound particles have a residence time less than 1 minute in the ultra-high temperature reaction zone sufficient to mix with and react with the reductant to reduce the metal compound 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 from the mixture of elemental metals within one or more separation zones based on differential size and density of the one or more elemental metals and the remaining mixture of elemental metals.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.