Method to recover metal from a metal-containing dross material

A method to recover metal from a dross material, comprising:

• (a) comminuting said dross material in a semi-autogenous mill having a peripheral port;
• (b) continuously removing a salt enriched fraction having an 80% passing particle size of about 2000 μm from said comminuted dross material using an air sweep;
• (c) continuously removing a metal enriched fraction comprising greater than about 65% metal from said comminuted dross material through said peripheral port of said semi-autogenous mill;
• (d) conducting eddy current separation on said metal enriched fraction to form an enriched product comprising greater than about 70% by weight metal and a recycle product;
• and
• (e) conducting said recycle product to said comminution mill.

A method for recovering aluminum from an aluminum-containing dross, comprising:

• (a) providing a continuous flow of said aluminum-containing dross having a particle size of less than about 150 mm and comprising between about 50% and about 65% by weight aluminum to a semi-autogenous mill having at least one peripheral port;
• (b) reducing the size of said aluminum-containing dross in said semi-autogenous mill;
• (c) directing a flow of air through said mill to remove a salt enriched fraction having an 80% passing particle size of about 2000 μm;
• (d) removing an aluminum-enriched fraction having an 80% retained particle size of about 1.0 mm and comprising greater than about 65% by weight aluminum from said semi-autogenous mill through said at least one peripheral port;
• (e) conducting eddy current separation on said aluminum-enriched fraction to form an enriched product comprising greater than about 70% by weight aluminum and a recycle product;
• and
• (f) returning said recycle product of said aluminum enriched fraction to said semi-autogenous mill.