Patent ID: 6797228
Filing Date: 2004-09-28
Classification: C22B,F27B,F27D,Y02E,Y02P,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for recovering aluminum from aluminum mixed with other than aluminum materials including the steps of:feeding aluminum mixed with other than aluminum materials into a melting furnace, the furnace configured to substantially prevent the introduction of air; feeding oxygen at a predetermined purity greater than 21 percent into the furnace; feeding a carbon based fuel into the furnace; combusting the oxygen and the carbon based fuel in the furnace, the oxygen and carbon based fuel combusted in the furnace wherein the oxygen in the oxygen supply and the carbon based fuel are fed into the furnace in a stoichiometric proportion to one another to limit an excess of either the oxygen or the carbon based fuel to less than 5 percent over the stoichiometric proportion, and wherein the combustion of the carbon based fuel provides a flame temperature in excess of about 4500Â° F., and wherein an exhaust gas stream from the furnace has a temperature of not more than about 1100Â° F.; melting the aluminum in the furnace; removing contaminant laden aluminum from the furnace; and discharging substantially pure molten aluminum from the furnace.