Method for enhancing reaction rates in metals refining extraction, and recycling operations involving melts containing ionic species such as slags, mattes, fluxes

A process for enhancing reactions during metals recycling operations, comprising:

• (a) combining metal scrap and slag forming fluxes, the metal scrap having at least one component to be refined therein;
• (b) introducing at least one additive into the metal scrap and the slag forming fluxes;
• (c) generating a slag-metal dispersion with the slag forming fluxes, the metal scrap and the at least one additive;
• (d) contacting the dispersion with arc means such that space charges within the slag-metal dispersion are discharged and such that the at least one additive reacts with the at least one component in the metal scrap to form a compound which is absorbed into the slag, thereby removing the at least one component from the metal scrap;
• and
• (e) maintaining and regenerating the slag-metal dispersion such that additional space charges in the slag-metal dispersion are discharged.

A process for increasing carbon oxidation in a metal melt, comprising:

• contacting a slag having iron oxides therein and the metal melt such that at least a portion of the metal is dispersed in the slag, thereby forming a slag-metal dispersion containing metal droplets suspended in the slag;
• discharging space charge within the slag-metal dispersion by contacting the slag-metal dispersion with arc means such that carbon is oxidized and removed from the metal melt;
• and
• maintaining and regenerating the slag-metal dispersion such that additional space charges in the slag-metal dispersion are discharged.

A process for enhancing reactions during copper smelting processes, comprising:

• (a) combining a matte having sulfides of copper and iron with slag forming fluxes to form a matte-flux system;
• (b) contacting the matte-flux system with an oxidizing agent and arc means such that the iron sulfide is oxidized and forms a slag with the flux;
• (c) oxidizing the copper sulfide into copper and sulfur containing gases;
• (d) substantially simultaneous with steps (a)-(c), generating a dispersion with the matte, the slag and a metal and contacting the dispersion with arc means such that space charges within the dispersion are discharged;
• and
• (e) maintaining and regenerating the slag-metal dispersion such that additional space charges in the slag-metal dispersion are discharged.

A process for enhancing reactions during metals extraction processes, comprising:

• (a) combining a matte having metal sulfides with slag forming fluxes to form a matte-flux system;
• (b) contacting the matte-flux system with an oxidizing agent and arc means such that the metal sulfide forms a metal oxide in a slag;
• (c) reducing the metal oxide into the corresponding metal;
• (d) substantially simultaneous with steps (a)-(c), generating a dispersion with the matte and the slag and contacting the dispersion with arc means such that space charges within the dispersion are discharged;
• and
• (e) maintaining and regenerating the slag-metal dispersion such that additional space charges in the slag-metal dispersion are discharged.