Apparatus and method for the reduction of metals

Abstract

Described is an apparatus for the production of an elemental metal from a metal-containing compound comprising a reaction medium containing ions of a first metal and a second metal, wherein the second metal is in colloidal form, and a related method.

1 . An apparatus for the production of an elemental metal from a metal-containing compound, comprising: 
 a reaction medium containing ions of a first metal; and    a second metal, wherein the second metal is in colloidal form.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a reaction vessel for containing the reaction medium.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the reaction vessel is configured to maintain an internal pressure above atmospheric.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the reaction medium comprises formic acid.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the second metal is less reactive than the first metal.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the second metal is more reactive than the first metal.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising a third metal, wherein the third metal is in colloidal form.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the third metal is more reactive than the first metal.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the third metal is less reactive than the first metal.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the second metal is silver, gold, platinum, tin, lead, copper, zinc, iron, aluminum, magnesium, beryllium, nickel or cadmium.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising a solid comprising the first metal in contact with the solution.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the solid comprising the first metal is a metal oxide.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an elemental non-metal in contact with the solution.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising ions of a salt dissolved in the solution.  
     
     
         15 . A method for the production of a metal from a metal-containing compound, comprising the steps of: 
 suspending a first colloidal metal in a reaction medium; and    providing a metal-containing compound in contact with the reaction medium.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the reaction medium comprises formic acid.  
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for the production of elemental metal from a metal-containing compound, comprising: 
 a reaction medium;    a first metal at least partially submerged in the reaction medium, the first metal having a surface area of at least 298,000,000 m 2  per cubic meter of first metal; and    a metal-containing compound in contact with the reaction medium.    
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  further comprising a reaction vessel for containing the reaction medium.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the reaction vessel is configured to maintain an internal pressure above atmospheric.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the reaction medium comprises formic acid.