METHOD AND DEVICE FOR METAL PURIFICATION AND SEPARATION OF PURIFIED METAL FROM A METAL MOTHER LIQUID SUCH AS ALUMINIUM

• Main Authors: BOENDER, WILLEM, BEUNDER, ELISABETH MARIA, HOGENBOOM, MARCELLUS ALBERTUS, KIEFT, RENE, TEN CATE, ANDREAS, STORM, JOOST CHRISTIAAN, WOUTERS, HUIBRECHT ADRIAAN
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French
• Published: 10.01.2008
• Subjects: CHEMISTRY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; METALLURGY; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS; PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; SEPARATION; TRANSPORTING; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS

The invention relates to a method and device for the purification and sep aration of purified metal from a metal mother liquid having a specific densi ty and comprising one or more foreign element(s), the method comprising the steps of: providing in a column device a starting material comprising metal crystals and a metal mother liquid comprising at least one foreign element; applying a temperature difference between a relatively hot zone at the upper end of the column and a relatively cool zone at the lower end of the column ; a separation step wherein at least a part of the metal crystals is separat ed from the metal mother liquid by rising of the metal crystals to the upper surface of the metal mother liquid; and a further separation step wherein p urified metal floating on the upper surface of the metal mother liquid is di scharged from the column device.