METHODS AND CHEMO-THERMAL REACTOR APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING MINERAL VALUES FROM PARTICULATE MATERIALS

摘要

A method and apparatus for chemo-thermal separation of mineral values from mineral containing particulate materials in a plasma reactor (100). The plasma reactor (100) includes a reaction chamber (110) wherein the particles are contacted with a plasma arc (105) rotating at a rate of at least 16,000 RPM causing the mineral values in the particles to liquify and to be transported from the reaction chamber (110) through a cooling zone (112) wherein agglomerated mineral value particles are formed for collection after passing through a countercurrent air flow zone (114) in which the mineral values are further separated.