[en] This report describes the results of testwork on the recovery of tin, niobium, and tantalum from a tin slag. The slag, which consisted mainly of amorphous silica, with varying amounts of calcuim, magnesium, manganese, iron, and aluminium, contained an average of 8,8 per cent niobium pentoxide and 6,2 per cent tantalum pentoxide. The metallic tin-ion phase was removed from the crushed slag by magnetic separation. The slag was then leached with hydrochloric acid to remove magnesium, calcium, aluminium, iron, manganese, and the remainder of the tin. Leaching with sodium hydroxide for the removal of silica and phosphorous was followed by a final leach with hydrochloric acid for the removal of sodium. The upgraded concentrate thus obtained was purified by leaching with hydrofluoric acid, solvent extraction of niobium and tantalum into tri-n-butyl phosphate and methyl isobutyl ketone, and selective stripping of niobium with sulphuric acid and tantalum with ammonium floride. Niobium pentoxide and potassium tantalum fluoride were then precipitated by the addition of ammonium hydroxide and potassium fluoride to the respective strip liquors. The overall recoveries in the upgraded concentrate were 98 per cent for tantalum and 92 per cent for niobium. Dissolutions and recoveries of over 99 per cent were obtained for both tantalum and niobium in the purification steps. The niobium pentoxide and potassium tantalum fluoride precipitates obtained were of high purity

[en] A liquid-liquid extraction process for the extraction of tantalum and niobium, and their separation from each other is provided. A solution of the fluoride complexes of tantalum and niobium is firstly formed and tantalum extracted therefrom using a selective organic extractant in an amount of not more than 1 mole of extractant per mole of tantalum present. A second tantalum extraction is then carried similarly, but using not more than 0,2 moles of extractant per mole of tantalum originally present. Niobium is then extracted in a similar way. The tantalum and niobium rich organic phases are optionally washed with acid and subjected to stripping to recover tantalum and niobium, generally in a precipitated form

[en] The experimental problem of the calibration of magnetic field in large iron detectors located in underground areas is discussed. Emphasis is laid on techniques based on ballistic measurements as the ones employed by MINOS or OPERA. An experimental investigation of the precision achievable by these methods has been carried out using a full-scale prototype of the OPERA spectrometer built in Frascati in 2001. We demonstrate that a field calibration at the level of 3% can be reached and discuss in details the limiting systematics. Moreover, we provide analytical formulas to model the behaviour of the apparatus in the transient regime, keeping into account eddy current effects and the finite penetration velocity of the driving fields. These formulas ease substantially the design of the calibration apparatus. Finally, ballistic techniques are shown to match the requirements for field calibration at the next generation long-baseline neutrino experiments and are well-suited to operate in underground laboratories

No abstract available

[en] This report has the aim to introduce the results of the sampling survey performed to determinate the consumption of energy sources (electricity, natural gas, fuel oil, diesel oil, etc.) in the tertiary sector. The energy consumptions report to 1999 and they are disaggregated for typology of use: energy consumptions for productive uses, for production of energy and for traction. The economic energy intensive activities have represented the nucleus of the survey. Particular attention has been devoted to the production of energy and the consumption of heat

[en] This report has the aim to introduce the results of the sampling survey performed to determinate the consumption of energy sources (electricity, natural gas, fuel oil, diesel oil, etc.) in the italian industry. The energy consumptions report to 1999 and they are disaggregated for typology of use: energy consumptions for productive uses, for production of energy and for traction. The energy intensive sectors and the great industries have represented the nucleus of survey. Particular attention has been devoted to the production of energy and the consumption of heat

[en] The issues which are discussed during this Seminar are dealing with questions related to natural gas, sustainable development, with the central question of CO₂ recovery and innovation required for providing the appropriate answers. New developments in the area of gas treatment will be to a large extent driven by the need to find appropriate solutions to the fundamental need of sustainable development. A new major challenge for the industry will be to implement new technologies for reducing CO₂ emissions. Industry has also to minimise its costs, and therefore, in order to ensure at the same time a better protection of the environment and a better safety, it will need to innovate. The purpose of this Seminar is precisely to better identify the innovations which are required in the area of gas treatment. Content: 1 - Welcome Address (C. Mandil); 2 - Future Prospects for the Gas Industry trends in supply (M.F. Chabrelie); 3 - Solutions for Offshore Gas Treatment (C. Streicher); 4 - Gas Treatment with Membranes (H. Meyer); 5 - Axens Multibed^TM Technology for Natural Gas Treatment (G. Jochem); 6 - Potentials and Applications for the Propure Co-current Contactors (F.P. Nilsen); 7 - Production of Very-Sour and Super-Sour Large Gas Reserves: the New Challenges (F. Lallemand); 8 - Hybrisol, a New Gas Treatment Process for Sour Natural Gases (F. Lecomte, R. Cadours and P. Mougin); 9 - Conception and Building of Large Acid-Gas Removal Units (J. Castel); 10 - Round Table: 'What options for CO₂ capture and sequestration?' (A. Rojey, G. Iorio, T.A. Torp, R. Bouchard); 11 - R and D directions for CO₂-capture (P.H.M. Feron)