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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Apparatus and method for recovering organic and non-ferrous metal products from shale and ore bearing rock

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5915516

Crushed shale and metal ores are fed via an oxygen purging duct in batches to a closed extraction chamber having a coreless high frequency electric induction furnace, where the raw materials are deposited on the surface of a molten non-ferrous metal charge in the crucible of the furnace. Natural induction stirring in the molten metal charge thoroughly contacts all grains of the raw material with the molten surface of the metal charge, thereby extracting non-ferrous metals from the raw material into the metal charge and vaporizing organic components such as petroleum into the non-oxidizing atmosphere in the extraction chamber. The residue of raw material is then skimmed from the furnace and discharged from the chamber by way of a chute having an air lock for preventing return of oxygen to the chamber. Organic components from the chamber are carried by a conduit to an associated fractionating tower for immediate refining at least partially by the heat from the furnace.

Assignee:
IFI; EDB-82-027615
Patent Number(s):
US 4295880
OSTI ID:
5915516
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English