A review of the results of the last foreign investigations is presented in the field of ionic flotation application during extraction of ions of color, rare, and precious metals. The analyzed information is systematized in extracted metal ion (colligend).

Calculation of the energy possibility of А spherical bubble transition into М captive bubble, i.e. А → М transition, has shown the great effect of capillary pressure (Рc) on the calculation results as well as that in reducing А and М bubbles and growing Рc in them, the range of possible РcМ change in М bubble is sharply confined and the effect of РcМ on the energy barrier along the path of the bubble adhesion to the hydrophilic surface drops practically to zero but the preference in bubble adhesion to the hydrophobic surface is kept constant, although the difference considerably drops compared with large bubbles. The practical data of the first processes of the foam flotation with microbubbles are the confirming experimental base of the results of this high-precision calculation. It is apparently, the adhesion process in practice is also promoted by θМ wetting angle reduction down to 0,02° and the beginning growth of spreading coefficient of the adhered bubble over the substrate-particle.

Using mathematical planning of experiments, the results of studies concerned with the static strength of crude copper and molybdenum concentrate pellets from the «Tastau» deposit have been obtained; the concentrate is granulated in lignosulfonate solution (spent sulfite-alcohol liquor ρ = 1,05 g/cm3). The effect of temperature, drying time, air flow, and grain size on the examined characteristics has been studied. An energy-stohastic model of the static strength of concentrate granules is developed. It is found the height of layer when filling in different bins for average granule diameter of 8 mm must not exceed 12 m.

The mathematical 3D-model of Vanjukov melting furnace is presented. It allows us to predict the behavior of the furnace in emergency operation mode (when oxygen flow is disabled) and to construct the effective additional heating system, which dampens the consequences of emergency mode and reduces the costs of the furnace reactivation. It is shown how the enthalpy and porosity method is used to model the molten media solidification in Vanjukov furnace in course of time. The model was adjusted to be adequate with the real operating conditions, which are fuzzy. For the solidifying bath the heating control parameters were found to keep it ready for a fast start. The solidification was solved in a conjugated set with an upper-bath heating system. So the problem of expensive start of furnace after the long emergency stop has been solved.

Using the DFT (B3LYP/LANL2DZ) quantum-chemical method, the dynamics of equilibrium change in chemical exchange in interacting dicyanoaurate with potassium hydroxide resulting in bimolecular hydroxy cyanoaurate complex with potassium cyanide has been studied. The study has been carried out for gas-phase and polyhydrated states with varied number (n) of water molecules in near-sphere environment. The equilibrium is fully shifted towards dicyanoaurate in gas-phase and poly-hydrated states (n ≤ 3). The subsequent increase of water molecules (n > 3) within the solvate environment of the bimolecular system results in the equilibrium shift towards hydroxy cyanoaurate formation.

A process flow diagram for the complex differential extraction of precious and nonferrous metals from multi-component electronic scrap has been proposed for the purpose of improvement of the enterprise economic status in the secondary metallurgy. The advantages of the new technology and the results of extraction are given. The profit performances, which have been obtained as a result of introducing the technology, the together with the gold value as the main product during incidental extraction of other valuable components are presented. The efficiency coefficient of complex extraction of non-ferrous and precious metals is calculated by formula: K = Profit/Expenses. The effect of procurement prices on the profit is analyzed. The profit decrease per 1 ton of scrap is found to amount to 0,01 to 0,05 % with increasing the procurement price of up to 100 % for the content of precious metals at the rate of the Central Bank of Russia. Consequently, there is the possibility of significant growth of the procurement price for raw materials in comparison with the equilibrium prices of the market. The dependence of the annual profit on increased productivity for different scrap types has been analyzed. The compositions are recommended the procurement prices of which are to be increased. Realization the administrative impact on the scope of raw material supplies with the use of the pricing strategies is shown to be possible. The price increase for certain scrap types will provide the opportunity to attract suppliers, to increase the production, to expand the range of products, and obtain the additional income. Implementation of the proposed flowsheet for the complex recovery of valuable components from electronic scrap and the use of the raw materials procurement price increasing strategy for as a specific strategy for purchasing necessary resources and their distribution will allow us to improve the economic efficiency of the business activity. Increase in the profit will make possible the company to use it for realization of short- and long-term goals to improve their economic condition and strengthen the market position in the competitive environment.

«Thermo-Calc» program has been used for analyzing the aluminum based multicomponent systems for the purpose of determination of concentration boundaries when primary crystals of Fe-containing phases become to appear. The melting diagrams applied to industrial cast alloys of three basic groups: Al–Si (silumins), Al–Cu (АМ5 type) and Al–Mg (magnalium) are calculated. The most probable reason of crystallization of the following Fe-containing phases is shown to be Al5FeSi and Al15 (Fe, Mn) 3Si2 in silumins and Al3Fe and Al6 (Fe, Mn) in АМ5 type alloys. The opportunity of estimating the efficiency of aluminum melt treatment from iron is shown on the basis of primary crystallization parameter calculation of Fe-containing phases. 

Using the results of thermodynamic calculations with «Thermo-Сalc» software package, the fragments of the Al–Cu–Zn–Mg and Al–Cu–Zn–Mg–Fe–Si– (Mn) phase diagrams in the range of densities, (%): 4–6 Сu, 2–4 Zn, 0,5–2,0 Mg, 1,5–2,0 Fe, 1,5–5,0 Si have been built as well as the composition of the solid solution for a number of alloys of the Al–Cu–Zn–Mg–Fe–Si–(Mn) system has been calculated at temperatures near to the solidus line. The X-ray microspectral analysis was used for experimental proof of the thermodynamic calculations, which show the satisfactory precision of the calculated and experimental data. It is found that maximally alloyed aluminum solid solution can be produced at an iron and silicon density ratio of Fe/Si = 0,5 for the alloys of the Al–Cu–Zn–Mg–Fe–Si–(Mn) system.

The effect of the structure of initial charging Al–20wt.%Si alloys on their structure after single remelting and crystallization at equal cooling rate of 20 °C/sec has been investigated. It is found that the structural information from initial charging alloys is steadily saved and transmitted in the «solid–liquid-solid» system. Viscosimetric study of the melts produced from large- and fine-crystalline charging alloys at heating to 1350 °С and subsequent cool-down has confirmed the conclusion that the melts are translators of the structural information. It is found that the temperature of viscosity polyterm branching (hysteresis) (th) at the conditions of heating and cool-down for the melt from coarse-crystalline charging alloy is 1100 °C and that from fine-crystalline charging alloy is 1000 °C. It is noted that in the second case and at cool-down lower than th the viscosity is characterized by elevated values and the polyterm branch has steeper climb. The obtained results testify in favor of using special procedures of charging metal processing for the purpose of embedding the positive structural information into them. Application of this approach is mostly expedient in producing aluminum based foundry alloys.

A procedure of determining the optimum geometry of drawing tool is proposed for bimetal preform drawing. Based on the of minimum drawing stress condition, the dependences are obtained for determination of optimum drawing tool taper angles ensuring the minimum drawing stress and the minimum energy expenditures when bimetal articles are produced.

A mathematical model of metal deoxidizing by products of incomplete combustion of natural gas dispersed through an individual pore has been developed as applied to the reducing stage of copper fire refining in a ladle furnace. An estimate of reducer efficiency and correspondence of the model to the known experimental data is given.