CATALYST PROCESSING AND RECYCLING

Discussed auto catalysts contain interesting quantities of platinum noble metals, palladium and rhodium according to the type of auto catalyst, thereby becoming a possible source of these metal aims to acquaint themselves with catalysts in general, their history and last but not least the possibilities of processing and obtaining noble metals for further use. The article deals with knowledge at the theoretical level of use of methods in processing depleted catalysts. It is pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical methods. The platinum group metals (PGMs) palladium, platinum, and rhodium represent the key materials for automotive exhaust gas treatment. Since there are currently no adequate alternatives, the importance of these metals for the automotive industry is steadily rising. The high value of PGMs in spent catalysts justifies their recycling. The state-of the-art technology is to melt the ceramic carrier and collect the precious fraction in a liquid metal bath. As the feed material has quite high melting points, huge amounts of energy are required for this process. Hydrometallurgical treatments of the spent catalysts offer the possibility to recycle the PGMs with less energy and time demands. Moreover, automotive catalysts contain further valuable materials to improve the exhaust gas treatment. These compounds, like cerium oxide, cannot be recovered in pyrometallurgical processes.

Modeling the behavior of direct current electromagnetic forces acting on a drop of liquid metal during electroslag remelting

The article presents mathematical and computer modeling of the behavior of liquid electrode metal drops during the process of electroslag remelting (ESP) at a constant current source. The study of the effect of electric field created by direct current allowed us to show the deviation of the drop trajectory from the electrode axis. The flow of electrons and drops of the electrode metal are exposed to electromagnetic forces, which leads to their displacement relative to the remelted electrode axis. This effect entails destabilization of the liquid metal bath and crystal heterogeneity. In turn, the use of external influence on the flow of ESR process can make it possible to stabilize the liquid metal bath even with the use of direct current. Centrifugal forces can act as such forces. They can arise when implementing the technology with the consumable electrode rotation around its own axis. To establish the optimal parameters of rotation speed, it is necessary to estimate the magnitude of impact of the magnetic field that occurs during direct current remelting process. The modeling was carried out using the Ansys Fluent 16.0 software package on the example of remelting 12Kh18N10T steel under the flux ANF-6. The algorithm for calculating of Ansys Fluent is based on the finite element method. In this paper, the mathematical apparatus was not changed and was used in its initial form. The method of magnetic induction was used. The database of information about the ongoing process was built on a grid of finite elements with certain, but sufficient level of adequacy and quality. Each element contains information about the model at a given point, specified for this modeling process. We have revealed the change in the trajectory of the electrode metal drop by electric field from the opposite direction along which the drop flows. The average length of the path traversed by liquid metal drop from the mold axis to the inner surface is from 5 to 15 cm. The motion of an electrode metal drop without an external magnetic field was simulated. This simulation made it possible to determine (estimate) the direction of movement of electrode metal drops and the indicator of necessary external force to stabilize the liquid metal bath during ESP process at direct current equal to 0.067 N.

Modern electroslag technologies of electrode remelting and processing of liquid metal (review)

Objective. The results of the analysis of advanced technologies of electroslag remelting are presented. Results It is shown that ESR today is the main and most challenging in obtaining of high quality metal. Protection of the melting chamber and the electrode from the atmosphere by inert gas (IESR) or melting under pressure (PESR) prevents oxidation, which is especially important during remelting of the steels and alloys with high content of easily oxidizable elements. Refusal to use a consumable electrode in the classical ESR in favor of liquid metal, provided by the use of current-suppling mold, is an effective solution to the problem of its manufacture (manufacturing price reaches 40-60% of the cost of ingot production, and in some cases impossible) and reduce energy costs. Scientific novelty. During ESR LM, there is a decrease in temperature of slag and overheating of metal in comparison with classical ESR , the volume of liquid metal bath decreases that followed by improving conditions of ingot formation, at the expense of decrease in development of segregation processes and gives the chance to receive metal of homogeneous composition and structure. Practical significance. The advantages of the new ESR processes are a wide variation of the metal feed rate, less metal overheating and a flat bath, which provides molding with a homogeneous and defect-free internal structure and a smooth surface.