Inert tank for treating oxidizable liquid metal

An inert vessel for treating an oxidizable liquid metal, comprising:

• a vessel body and a lid mounted thereon with bearing surfaces at a junction therebetween, the body and lid each including a metal wall having an inner face coated with a refractory lining, the vessel body and optionally the lid having a plurality of holes therethrough,
• movable auxiliary equipment passing through the lid, and optionally, auxiliary equipment passing through the body,
• the vessel body comprising inlet and outlet means for the liquid metal including means for isolating liquid metal within the vessel from external atmosphere,
• an optional pressure regulating means for adjusting pressure within the vessel to higher than atmospheric pressure, and
• an inflatable seal disposed between the lid and the vessel body housed in a peripheral receptacle, said peripheral receptacle comprising at least one wall which is an extension of the lid, and at least one other wall which is an extension of the vessel body, said seal when inflated being directly adjacent the vessel body adjacent the junction and directly contacting the wall which is the extension of the lid and either the wall which is the extension of the vessel body or the vessel body itself or both the wall which is the extension of the vessel body and the vessel body itself.