Molten Metal Technology, Inc.

Robert D Bach

Christopher J Nagel

James E Johnston

Michael J Stephenson

William M Haney, Iii

A method for converting a ligated-metal into chemical components of the ligated-metal includes forming an ionized zone that can convert the ligated-metal to a reduced ligated-metal intermediate. The ligated-metal is directed into the ionized zone, whereby the ligated-metal is converted to a reduced ligated-metal intermediate, thereby causing a thermodynamically stable metal-ligand bond of the ligated-metal to be electronically destabilized and inducing subsequent metal-ligand bond rupture. The reduced ligated-metal intermediate is converted by the metal-ligand bond rupture into chemical components of the ligated-metal. Ligated-metals that are suitable for processing by the method of the invention include, for example: uranium hexafluoride (UF.sub.6); sodium chloride (NaCl); and metal halides, such as iron trichloride (FeCl.sub.3). Chemical components that can be recovered from the ligated-metal include, for example, metals and gases derived from the ligand component of the ligated-metals.

Chemical component recovery from ligated-metals

A method and apparatus producing halogenated products from metal halide feeds. In one embodiment, uranium hexafluoride is treated by separating fluorine from the metal of the uranium hexafluoride. Uranium hexafluoride is introduced into a molten metal bath under conditions whereby the uranium hexafluoride in the presence of hydrogen and oxygen can react to form a uranium dioxide and anhydrous hydrogen fluoride. The anhydrous hydrogen fluoride is removed from the molten metal bath as a gas stream and the uranium dioxide is discharged as a ceramic phase.

Method for producing halogenated products from metal halide feeds

A method includes organic homologation employing an organic-containing feed. The organic-containing feed is directed into a molten metal bath. The molten metal bath includes a metal which can cause an organic component of the organic-containing feed to homologate and form a homologated organic compound. Operating conditions are established and maintained in the reactor to cause the organic component to form a homologated organic compound that is discharged from the molten metal bath.

Method of organic homologation employing organic-containing feeds

The invention relates to a method for producing an unsaturated organic compound from an organic-containing feed. The method includes providing a reactor containing a liquid bath which includes a Bronsted acid that can protonate an organic component of the organic-containing feed. The feed is directed into the liquid bath at a rate which causes the Bronsted acid to protonate the organic component. Conditions are established and maintained in the reactor which cause the protonated organic component to fragment and form a carbenium ion and an unsaturated organic compound, whereby the unsaturated organic compound is discharged from the liquid bath.

Method for forming unsaturated organics from organic-containing feed by

A method includes producing an unsaturated organic compound from an organic component of an organic-containing feed. A reactor is provided which contains a molten metal bath. The molten metal bath includes a metal, such as a suitable transition metal, which can interact with an organic component of the feed. The feed is directed into the molten metal bath at a rate which causes the metal to interact with the organic component. Operating conditions are established and maintained in the reactor to cause the metal to interact with the organic component. At least one carbon-carbon double bond is formed in the organic component to produce an unsaturated organic compound that is discharged from the molten metal bath.

Method for producing unsaturated organics from organic-containing feeds

A method is disclosed for producing a non-radioactive product from a radioactive waste composition that includes a radioactive component and a non-radioactive component. The method includes directing the radioactive waste into a molten metal bath. A separation agent is directed in the molten metal bath which reacts with a component of the radioactive waste composition to form a reaction product which separates from the remaining component, thereby forming a non-radioactive product. The separation reagent can be, for example, an oxidant, a metal-ligand exchange reagent, or a reducing agent. The non-radioactive product can be a gas, a liquid, or a precipitate.

Method for producing a non-radioactive product from a radioactive waste

An environmentally sound process is described for the remediation of waste materials that allows the separation, recovery and decontamination of metals. The method includes chemically reducing essentially all of a reducible toxic and potentially hazardous metal-containing component of a waste composition. The waste is directed into a molten metal bath, including a first reducing agent which, under the operating conditions of the molten metal bath, chemically reduces a metal of the metal-containing component to form a dissolved intermediate. A second reducing agent is directed into the molten metal bath. The second reducing agent, under the operations of the molten metal bath, chemically reduces the metal of the dissolved intermediate. The rate at which the second reducing agent is directed into the molten metal bath, relative to the rate at which the component of the waste is directed into the molten metal bath, is sufficient to cause essentially all metal-containing intermediate formed to dissolve in the molten metal bath, thereby indirectly chemically reducing the component of the waste. This indirect reduction technology can remediate a variety of materials, including ash metal-contaminated municipal waste, vitreous slag-like materials and spent metal catalysts, while allowing the recovery of remediable metals.

Method of indirect chemical reduction of metals in waste

An environmentally sound process is described for the remediation of waste materials and oxides of metals that allows the separation, recovery and decontamination of metals. The method includes chemically reducing essentially all of a reducible toxic and potentially hazardous metal oxide of a metal-containing composition. A metal-containing composition is directed into a molten bath, including a first reducing agent which, under the operating conditions of the molten bath, chemically reduces a first metal oxide of a metal in the metal-containing composition to form a bath-soluble transient second metal oxide. A second reducing agent is directed into the molten bath. The second reducing agent, under the operations of the molten-bath, chemically reduces the second metal oxide, provided that the second reducing agent has a Gibbs free energy lower than that of the second metal oxide. The rate at which the second reducing agent is directed into the molten bath, relative to the rate at which the metal-oxide of the metal-containing composition is directed into the molten-bath, is sufficient to cause essentially all subsequently formed second metal oxide to dissolve in the molten bath, thereby chemically reducing essentially all of the metal oxide of the metal-containing composition. This indirect reduction technology can remediate a variety of materials, including ash metal-contaminated municipal waste, vitreous stag-like materials and spent metal catalysts, while allowing the recovery of remediable metals.

Method for chemically reducing metals in waste compositions

An environmentally sound process is described for the remediation of waste materials that allows the separation, recovery and decontamination of metals. The method includes chemically reducing essentially all of a reducible toxic and potentially hazardous metal-containing component of a waste composition. The waste is directed into a molten metal bath, including a first reducing agent which, under the operating conditions of the molten metal bath, chemically reduces a metal of the metal-containing component to form a dissolved intermediate. A reagent is directed into the molten metal bath for metal-ligand exchange with the dissolved intermediate to form a metal-ligand exchange product that includes the metal of the dissolved intermediate. A second reducing agent is directed into the molten metal bath. The second reducing agent, under the operations of the molten metal bath, chemically reduces the metal of the metal-ligand exchange product. The rate at which the second reducing agent is directed into the molten metal bath, relative to the rate at which the component of the waste is directed into the molten metal bath, is sufficient to cause essentially all metal of the metal-containing intermediate formed to be reduced in the molten metal bath, thereby indirectly chemically reducing the component of the waste. This indirect reduction technology can remediate a variety of materials, including ash metal-contaminated municipal waste, vitreous slag-like materials and spent metal catalysts, while allowing the recovery of remediable metals.

Method for indirect chemical reduction of metals in waste

A method is disclosed for reducing the volume of a radioactive composition by separating a radioactive first component from a second component of the radioactive composition. The method includes directing the radioactive composition into a reaction zone. The reaction zone includes a molten bath, wherein oxidation of a component of the radioactive composition in the molten bath will cause separation of the radioactive first component from the second component. An oxidizing agent is directed into the molten bath, which oxidizes a component of the radioactive composition, whereby the radioactive first component is separated from the second component. The net volume of the radioactive composition is thereby reduced.

Growing community of inventors

Gross Pointe, MI, United States of America

Robert D Bach