TREATMENT OF OXIDE-CONTAINING DUSTS

摘要

An arc is drawn between a movable electrode (E) (preferably graphite), and a fixed electrode (7) in a furnace when smelting metal oxides using a plasma. Shielding gas, e.g. N, is introduced into plenum (P) about the movable electrode (E) to prevent metal vapour from settling on the inner lining (3; 9) of the furnace (1). The movable electrode (E) may be connected to a mast (30) on the furnace roof (4) to align that electrode (E) in its path through a hole (10) in the roof (4) into the furnace chamber (C).