METHODS FOR PROCESSING METAL-CONTAINING MATERIALS
According to one or more embodiments presently described, a method for processing metal-containing materials may include passing a feed stream through a first conduit of a multi-conduit reactor, the feed stream including metal-containing material in a molten phase; passing a fluid stream through a second conduit of the multi-conduit reactor; and contacting the feed stream with the fluid stream in a mixing zone downstream of the first conduit and second conduit, thereby causing a chemical or physical change in the one or more materials of the feed stream to form a product stream comprising metal-containing particles.
1 . A method for processing metal-containing materials, the method comprising:
passing a feed stream through a first conduit of a multi-conduit reactor, the feed stream comprising metal-containing material in a molten phase;
passing a fluid stream through a second conduit of the multi-conduit reactor;
contacting the feed stream with the fluid stream in a mixing zone downstream of the first conduit and second conduit, thereby causing a chemical or physical change in the one or more materials of the feed stream to form a product stream.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first conduit and the second conduit form a coaxial geometry, such that the first conduit is axially surrounded by the second conduit.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein:
the first conduit has a circular cross section; and
the second conduit has a circular inner cross section and a circular outer cross section.
4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein a first tubular wall divides the first conduit from the second conduit.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the feed stream comprises one or more of lead, zinc, nickel, bismuth, antimony, and alloys thereof.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the feed stream comprises lead.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the feed stream has a temperature of at least the melting point all materials of the feed stream or at least the eutectic melting point for all alloy feed streams.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the feed stream has a temperature greater than or equal to the melting point of the material of the feed stream.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the feed stream further comprises a carrier gas.
10 . The method of any claim 9 , wherein the carrier gas comprises inert gas.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid stream comprises a combustible gas.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid stream is not chemically reactive with the feed stream.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid stream has a temperature of from 50° F. to 90° F.
14 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising passing a quench stream through a third conduit of the multi-conduit reactor and into the mixing zone.
15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the quench stream comprises one or more of nitrogen or oxygen.
16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the product stream comprises powdered metal, powdered alloy, powdered metalloid, or oxide thereof.
17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the metal or alloy of the feed stream is combusted in the mixing zone to form metal oxide.
18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the multi-conduit reactor comprises a supplemental heating source.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the supplemental heating source is disposed in the mixing zone.
20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the supplemental heating source is selected from the group consisting of an ignition system, a burner, or combination thereof.