METHOD OF PREPARING LOW-CARBON METALS AND ALLOYS Russian patent published in 2001 - IPC

FIELD: pyrrometallurgy, more particularly reduction of metals with solid carbon from oxides thereof. SUBSTANCE: method comprises forming solvent melt based on alkaline-earth metal halides, creating ore thermal melting mode, continuously feeding the blend composed of oxide-containing material and solid carbon reducing agent, dissolving oxides in solvent melt, reducing thereof with solid carbon at preset temperature and fixed partial pressure of carbon oxide over melt, and separating the resulting metal from solvent melt. High concentration of dissolved oxides is constantly maintained in solvent melt by feeding continuously oxide-containing material, solid carbon reducing agent is fed separately in amount of less than stoichiometric amount, and height of solvent melt layer is maintained at level of at least four diameters of electrodes. Method makes it possible to prepare low-carbon metals and alloys by single stage process directly from ores, concentrates, semiproducts and metallurgical waste. EFFECT: more efficient preparation method. 4 ex, 1 tbl