Reynolds Metals Company

Larry C Venable

John F Krzyston

Gilbert F Bourcier

Philip E Smith

A method and apparatus for recovering metallic aluminum from furnace dross. The method includes reducing the particle size of the dross and passing the resulting dross particles over the surface of an inclined linear induction motor to separate the more conductive, aluminum-metal-containing particles from the less or non-conductive particles that contain little or no metallic aluminum. The linear induction motor provides an electromagnetic field that operates to levitate the conductive, aluminum-containing particles, while those particles that include little or no aluminum are not affected by the electromagnetic field. A flow splitter positioned at the lower end of the motor separates the conductive particles from the substantially non-conductive particles. Metallic aluminum recovery rates of about 55% and higher of the aluminum contained in the furnace dross have been achieved. The resulting product has been enriched by a factor of twelve times over that of the infeed material.

Growing community of inventors

Richmond, VA, United States of America

Larry C Venable