A system for separating constituents from a base material using RF energy which is coupled to a reaction chamber by way of a windowless transmission line. By eliminating the need for a window, traditional limitations placed on the maximum power delivered to the resonating cavity are eliminated. Thus, the only practical limitation on the RF energy which can be delivered to a resonating cavity are the ability of RF energy source to produce that energy and the ability of the resonating cavity to manage that energy.
A method to enhance the extraction of an element from an ore includes subjecting the ore, or element bearing material to electromagnetic radiation to induce pyrolysis of the material. The residue of the pyrolysis may then be processed in a conventional manner to extract the element. The radiation used in the invention has a wavelength longer than microwave radiation, and is preferably 100 mm or longer. Preferably, radio waves are used as the radiation to effect pyrolysis.
Methods and apparatuses for separating metal values, such as nickel and nickel compounds, from mineral ores, including lateritic ores are disclosed. The method includes providing a mixture of particles (e.g., crushed and sized ore) that is composed of at least a first group of particles and a second group of particles. Group members have similar chemical composition, while particles belonging to different groups have dissimilar chemical compositions. The mixture of particles is exposed to microwave/millimeter wave energy in order to differentially heat the first and second group of particles, thereby increasing differences in magnetic susceptibility between the first and second group of particles. The mixture of particles is then passed through a magnetic field gradient, which causes the particles to separate into magnetic and non-magnetic fractions.
A process of heat-treating II-VI compound semiconductors reduces the electrical resistivity without the decrease in crystallinity resulting from the increase in dislocation density. The process comprises the following steps:(a) placing at least one II-VI compound semiconductor in contact with aluminum in a heat-treating chamber having the inside surface formed by at least one material selected from the group consisting of pyrolytic born nitride, hexagonal-system boron nitride, sapphire, alumina, aluminum nitride, and polycrystalline diamond; and (b) heat-treating the II-VI compound semiconductor or semiconductors in a gaseous atmosphere containing the group II element constituting part of the II-VI compound semiconductor or semiconductors. A II-VI compound semiconductor is heat-treated by the foregoing process. An apparatus for heat-treating II-VI compound semiconductors comprises components for performing the foregoing process.
Methods and apparatuses for separating metal values, such as nickel and nickel compounds, from mineral ores, including lateritic ores are disclosed. The method includes providing a mixture of particles (e.g., crushed and sized ore) that is composed of at least a first group of particles and a second group of particles. Group members have similar chemical composition, while particles belonging to different groups have dissimilar chemical compositions. The mixture of particles is concurrently, or generally concurrently, heated (using microwave/millimeter wave energy) and exposed to a reactant. The wave energy and the reactant act to increase the difference in either the magnetic susceptibility or other separation properties between the first and second group of particles. The mixture of particles is then passed through an appropriate separator to separate the particles of interest. Optional steps are disclosed for purifying selected particles. The reactant includes sulfur, sulfur compounds, halogens, or halogen compounds.
