Nucleation of metals by redox processes in glass molten media

Nitrogen incorporation into an aluminosilicate glass network changes greatly its physico-chemical properties. M-Si-Al-O-N (M = Li, Mg, Ca, Ln) oxynitride glasses are chemically inert. However, the presence of N3- ions in molten glass gives to the glass medium a reducing character. This work concerns the study of redox reactions in molten glass between nitrogen and oxides of the first transition series of the periodic table, cadmium and lead. In situ precipitation of metallic particles from the corresponding oxides is demonstrated by X-ray diffraction and EDS data. However, the reduction of pure TiO2 and V2O5 gives rise to the corresponding nitrides, i.e. TiN and VN. The redox reaction occurs with nitrogen release. The low solubility of metals in the molten glass media forces metal migration out off the glass and consequently favors metal recovery. This oxidation-reduction process in molten media can be envisaged as industrially useful for recovering metals in industrial wastes. (authors)