US3960548A — Process for the separation of components in multi…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 238 words

A process for the separation of components in multicomponent mixtures, for the case where the diagram of binary phases of the two major components to be separated presents a monotectic and their densities are different, said process comprising the steps of (a) melting the mixture and heating it to a temperature above the temperature of the monotectic and/or of the solid/liquid transformation depending on the composition of the mixture; (b) cooling the mixture from the maximum temperature, controlling the rate of cooling until a temperature about that of the temperature of the monotectic transformation is reached; (c) maintaining the mixture at the temperature of the monotectic transformation for a preestablished period of time; (d) cooling the mixture down to a temperature below the temperature of the monotectic transformation the cooling being made at a controlled rate; (e) heating the material from the lower temperature reached, up to the temperature of the monotectic transformation controlling the heating rate; (f) maintaining the mixture at the temperature of the monotectic for a preestablished period of time; (g) heating the mixture up to a maximum temperature, above the temperature of the monotectic and/or of the solid/liquid transformation depending on the composition of the mixture, the heating being conducted at a controlled rate, wherein the new higher maximum temperature may be higher, the same or lower than the maximum starting temperature; and (h) separating from said mixture liquid rich in said denser component.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 238 words

A process for the separation of components in multicomponent mixtures, for the case where the diagram of binary phases of the two major components to be separated presents a monotectic and their densities are different, said process comprising the steps of (a) melting the mixture and heating it to a temperature above the temperature of the monotectic and/or of the solid/liquid transformation depending on the composition of the mixture; (b) cooling the mixture from the maximum temperature, controlling the rate of cooling until a temperature about that of the temperature of the monotectic transformation is reached; (c) maintaining the mixture at the temperature of the monotectic transformation for a preestablished period of time; (d) cooling the mixture down to a temperature below the temperature of the monotectic transformation the cooling being made at a controlled rate; (e) heating the material from the lower temperature reached, up to the temperature of the monotectic transformation controlling the heating rate; (f) maintaining the mixture at the temperature of the monotectic for a preestablished period of time; (g) heating the mixture up to a maximum temperature, above the temperature of the monotectic and/or of the solid/liquid transformation depending on the composition of the mixture, the heating being conducted at a controlled rate, wherein the new higher maximum temperature may be higher, the same or lower than the maximum starting temperature; and (h) separating from said mixture liquid rich in said denser component.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 31 words

The process of claim 1, wherein the sequence of steps (a) through (g) is cyclically repeated as many times as necessary to obtain a determined degree of separation of the components.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 20 words

The process of claim 1 further comprising removing the denser component continuously or discontinuously during the course of the process.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 195 words

A process for separating lead from a multi-component zinc mixture comprising the steps of: a. melting and heating the mixture to a temperature of at least 420°C; b. cooling the mixture from the maximum temperature, while controlling the rate of cooling, until the temperature at which monotectic reaction occurs is reached; c. maintaining the mixture at a temperature between about 417°C and 320°C for a period of time of at least 6 minutes; d. cooling the mixture to below the temperature of the monotectic at a controlled rate; e. heating the mixture from the lower temperature reached up to the monotectic at a controlled rate; f. maintaining the mixture at the monotectic temperature for a pre-established period of time; g. heating the mixture to a higher temperature from that of the monotectic and/or the solid/liquid transformation; h. repeating the process cyclically as many times as necessary to obtain determined degree of separation of the components into a zone rich in Pb and a zone rich in Zn; i. removing the denser component continuously or discontinuously at any time during the course of the process; and j. separating the zone rich in Pb from said mixture.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 195 words

A process for separating lead from a multi-component zinc mixture comprising the steps of: a. melting and heating the mixture to a temperature of at least 420°C; b. cooling the mixture from the maximum temperature, while controlling the rate of cooling, until the temperature at which monotectic reaction occurs is reached; c. maintaining the mixture at a temperature between about 417°C and 320°C for a period of time of at least 6 minutes; d. cooling the mixture to below the temperature of the monotectic at a controlled rate; e. heating the mixture from the lower temperature reached up to the monotectic at a controlled rate; f. maintaining the mixture at the monotectic temperature for a pre-established period of time; g. heating the mixture to a higher temperature from that of the monotectic and/or the solid/liquid transformation; h. repeating the process cyclically as many times as necessary to obtain determined degree of separation of the components into a zone rich in Pb and a zone rich in Zn; i. removing the denser component continuously or discontinuously at any time during the course of the process; and j. separating the zone rich in Pb from said mixture.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 235 words

A process for separating lead from a multicomponent zinc mixture, wherein Zn and Pb are the major components of said mixture, with compositions of Pb above or below the composition of the monotectic of the Zn/Pb system and assuring a physical separation of zones of material with any composition of Pb between the starting composition and compositions below 0.04% Pb in Zn and those having more than 90% Pb in Zn, said process comprising the steps of: a. melting and heating the mixture to a temperature above the temperature of the monotectic and/or the solid/liquid transformation temperature, depending on the mixture; b. cooling the mixture from the maximum temperature, while controlling the rate of cooling, until the temperature at which monotectic reaction occurs is reached; c. maintaining the mixture at that temperature for a preestablished period of time; d. cooling the mixture to below the temperature of the monotectic at a controlled rate; e. heating the mixture from the lower temperature reached up to the monotectic at a controlled rate; f. maintaining the mixture at the monotectic temperature for a preestablished period of time; g. heating the mixture to a higher temperature from that of the monotectic and/or the solid/liquid transformation temperature, according to the composition of the mixture under treatment to form a zone rich in Pb and a zone rich in Zn; and h. separating the zone rich in Pb from said mixture.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 235 words

A process for separating lead from a multicomponent zinc mixture, wherein Zn and Pb are the major components of said mixture, with compositions of Pb above or below the composition of the monotectic of the Zn/Pb system and assuring a physical separation of zones of material with any composition of Pb between the starting composition and compositions below 0.04% Pb in Zn and those having more than 90% Pb in Zn, said process comprising the steps of: a. melting and heating the mixture to a temperature above the temperature of the monotectic and/or the solid/liquid transformation temperature, depending on the mixture; b. cooling the mixture from the maximum temperature, while controlling the rate of cooling, until the temperature at which monotectic reaction occurs is reached; c. maintaining the mixture at that temperature for a preestablished period of time; d. cooling the mixture to below the temperature of the monotectic at a controlled rate; e. heating the mixture from the lower temperature reached up to the monotectic at a controlled rate; f. maintaining the mixture at the monotectic temperature for a preestablished period of time; g. heating the mixture to a higher temperature from that of the monotectic and/or the solid/liquid transformation temperature, according to the composition of the mixture under treatment to form a zone rich in Pb and a zone rich in Zn; and h. separating the zone rich in Pb from said mixture.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 41 words

The process of claim 5 wherein the temperature of step (a) is at least 420°C, the period of time in steps (c) and (f) is at least 6 minutes, and the temperature of step (c) is between approximately 417°C and 320°C.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 25 words

The process of claim 5, wherein the process is cyclically repeated as many times as necessary to obtain a determined degree of separation of components.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1979-06-01	1979-12-01	1980-06-01	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1983-06-01	1983-12-01	1984-06-01	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1987-06-01	1987-12-01	1988-06-01	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Process for the separation of components in multicomponent mixtures, for the case wherein the diagram of binary phases of the two major components presents a monotectic and their densities are different

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag