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By Zbigniew Zurecki

The selection of atmosphere composition is critical for controlling surface quality of reactive aluminum alloys during solution treatments. An improper selection of annealing atmosphere can result in surface blistering in AI-Mg and sub-surface depletion of lithium in AI-U ingots. To determine optimum atmosphere compositions for homogenizing A1-Mg and Al-Li alloys, Ii number of exploratory experiments were carried out in air, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide based atmospheres including reactive impurities or additive such as moisture and sulfur hexafluoride. This paper describes the influence of these atmospheres on high-temperature oxidation and sub-surface defects. The results are discussed in terms of the change in Pilling-Bedworth ratio.

Jan 1, 1996

By Mitsutaka Hino

The contents of gangue minerals, such as Al2O3. P2O5, crystalline water and so forth in the iron ore imported to Japan tend to increase year by year. Though the increments of such gangue contents arc approximately 0.1-0.2 mass%, some problems for the blast furnace operation in ironmaking process have already been reported, In order to clarify the mechanism of harmful effect caused by the small increment of gangue minerals, mainly Al2O3. on the blast furnace operation, the dripping behavior of Fe,O-CaO-SiO2-Al2O3-MgO slag from the iron funnel, which simulated the micro-porosity in sinter ore, has been observed with the wide range of basicity, Al2O3, Fe2O and MgO contents. The effect of MgO on the dripping behavior of slag has been summarized in this paper. It was found that the addition of 2mass% MgO resulted in large increase of hold-up on the most of the conditions. When Fe2O content was less than 20mass% and the basicity was lower than 0.8, MgO lowered the hold-up even if the slag contained 10mass% Ah03. Every slag hold-up showed the minimum at the basicity of less than unity on the conditions of constant Fe2O and Al2O3 contents, This trend became remarkable when the slag contained 2 mass% MgO.

Jan 1, 2003

Cospidie (3CaO*2SiO2*CaFe2) is one of the most important compounds crystallized in mold flux films during casting in the continuous casting process of steel, The primary crystallization field of cuspidine has been experimentally developed in the CaO-SiO2-CaF2-SiF4 system. The cuspidine-NaF binary and cuspidine-CaF2-NaF ternary systems have been also experimentally determined to study effects of addition of NaF on the primary field of cuspidine. In order to discuss its thermodynamic stability the standard Gibbs energy of formation of cuspidine has been deterimed by an electromotive force methods using CaF2 as solid electrolyte and a transpiration method as follows: ^fG° (cuspidine) /kjmol-1 = 5198 + 0.825T (+12) (1313<T/K<1329): EMF method ^fG° (cuspidine) /kjmol-1 = 5178 + 0.813T (+8) (1221<T/K<1469): Transpiration method The chemical potential diagram and constituent activities for the CaO-SiO2-CaF2 System have been evaluated based on the obtained thermodynamic data.

Jan 1, 2003

By Bogidar Mihaylov

A laboratory study was conducted on continuous precipitation of copper, cadmium, mercury and arsenic using thiourea, thioacetamide, sodium sulfide and ammonium sulfide as precipitating agents. Depending on the experimental conditions the metals precipitate with the sulfide donors at different orders and rates. These differences were employed as a basis of several techniques for continuous separation of copper and arsenic, cadmium and arsenic, mercury and copper, and copper, mercury and arsenic. The separation of the metals from industrial waste solutions was also studied. The precipitates obtained were inspected using x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, atomic absorption spectrometer and plasma particle counter.

Jan 1, 1992

By Etsuro Shibata

The saturated solubility of chromium oxide and the valence of chromium in the slag are important matters when considering how to effectively utilize chromium-containing slags. The experimental data of various types of slags cited in the literature were arranged according to the optical basicity in order to evaluate the effects of the oxygen potential and the slag composition. The saturated solubility of chromium oxide and the Cr2+/ Cr3+ ratio tend to decrease with the increase of the optical basicity of the slag at an oxygen potential below 10.5 atm. However, at an oxygen potential of 0.21 atm, the saturated solubility and the Cr6+/Cr3+ ratio tend to increase with an increase of the optical basicity. A practical approach was suggested to reduce chromium in the stainless steel slag and simultaneously recover it as a ferroalloy by the direct smelting reduction of chromium oxide in the molten slag using some reductant in a small furnace.

Jan 1, 2003

By Andrew Shabalin, Vladimir Skorohodov, Svetlana Babaeva, ?lga Makovskaya

"At processing of some kinds of wastes (electronic scrap, secondary materials, spent nuclear fuel) in nitric acid solutions, and also in technology of silver refining, the significant amounts of palladium and platinum passes into a solution. The ion-exchange concentration of palladium and platinum in nitric acid solutions (5-500/dm3) are investigated. More than 30 various classes of ionites are tested. The most chemically resistance resins at the given conditions are identified. It is shown, that the maximum sorptive capacity to studied metals at high acidity the complexing, synthetic and inorganic sorbents possess. To definition of platinum metals sorption optimum conditions the kinetics is studied, isotherms of a sorption at various parameters from nitrate solutions are obtained. The conditions of the platinum and a palladium desorption from the pregnant sorbents and its regeneration with the subsequent reuse of materials were defined. The raw materials containing precious metals have very diverse composition and physical properties. Commonly the materials are processed by hydrometallurgical way. If gold or PGMs there are in raw materials to its opening hydrochloric acid solutions are applied. As an oxidizer nitric acid, hydrogen peroxide, gaseous chlorine, etc are used. Nevertheless, at processing of argentiferous materials and preliminary treatment of a waste including the spent nuclear fuel, nitric acid solutions are often used and the specified metals in some extent pass into solution [1]. Therefore selective extraction of PGMs from nitrate solutions is an actual problem. In the present work the ion-exchange concentrations of palladium and platinum in nitric acid solutions (5-500 g/dm3) are investigated. At the testing more than 30 various classes of ionites the most chemically resistance resins at the given conditions are identified. These resins are synthesized on the base of polyacrylate, styrene-divinylbenzene and vinylpyridine. For a selection of the most effective resin among what are made in Russia and overseas, a number of ionites with various functional groups were studied. Influence of functional groups type on a PGM sorption is shown for extraction of a palladium as an example (table 1). The presented data shows, that palladium concentration in a phase of ionites depends on sorbent type. If the increasing of solution acidity essentially reduces palladium sorption by sulfonic cation-exchange resins (KU-2×8) than its sorption by strongly basic anionites is approximately equal. Intermediate position is occupied by complexing sorbents. The latter (AN-31, SN-3, ANKB-35, Lewatit TP 207, Purolite S 930) are the most effective for extraction of PGMs from nitrate solutions from the point of view of capacity value. According to [2], solution behavior of Pt (II) and Pd (II) are similar. As is known from coordination chemistry, ligand environment of the metal ions substantially impacts to character of electronic spectra. The figure 1 shows the results of measurements of optical density of platinum bearing solutions with various concentration of nitric acid at ?=400 nanometers"

Jan 1, 2008

Cuspidine (3CaO?2SiO2?CaF2) is one of the most important compounds crystallized in mold flux films during casting in the continuous casting process of steel. The primary crystallization field of cuspidine has been experimentally developed in the CaO-SiOrCaF2-SiF4 system. The cuspidine-NaF binary and cuspidine-CaF2-NaF ternary systems have been also experimentally determined to study effects of addition of NaF on the primary field of cuspidine. In order to discuss its thermodynamic stability the standard Gibbs energy of formation of cuspidine has been determined by an electromotive force method using CaF2 as solid electrolyte and a transpiration method as follows: The chemical potential diagram and constituent activities for the CaO-Si02-CaF2 system have been evaluated based on the obtained thermodynamic data.

Jan 1, 2003

By P. Tim Johnson

Relentless increases in demand for nickel and vanadium for uses such as steelmaking, catalysts and battery materials, plus the growing financial and environmental costs of their primary extraction, have led to much interest in potential secondary sources of these metals. The presence of such metals in heavy fuel oils, bitumen and related materials offers both opportunities and challenges for potential extraction methods, especially with the growing production and importance of metal-rich fossil fuels around the world. For several decades, Tetronics’ DC plasma smelting technology has been used for the recovery of metals such as nickel and chromium from stainless steel melt dusts and other wastes in compact, environmentally-friendly and efficient plants. This paper explores the suitability of DC plasma smelting as part of a wider flowsheet with feed preparation and aluminothermic reduction techniques for smaller-scale extraction operations based on this important niche secondary source of these key metals.

By Jorge Gibson, P. Chris Pistorius, Megha Jampani

"The main reason for the significant carbon intensity of integrated steelmaking (approximately 1.8 tons of CO2 per ton of steel) is the use of carbon-based reductants in blast furnace ironmaking. Several changes to blast furnace ironmaking have been proposed as ways to reduce carbon intensity and cost. A conceptually simple two-zone blast furnace mass and energy balance can be used to quantify the expected impact of such process changes on coke rate, carbon intensity, and productivity. Examples to be discussed include top gas recycling, combining lower blast temperatures with increased coal injection to produce a rich top gas, using prereduced feed, and tuyère injection of natural gas. The use of the operating window – which illustrates how allowable flame temperatures and top-gas temperatures constrain feasible oxygen enrichment levels – is illustrated. Increased use of natural gas would lower the carbon intensity of blast furnace ironmaking.IntroductionBecause of the significant carbon intensity of steelmaking (approximately 1.8 tons of CO2 emitted per ton of steel produced) and the high production rate of steel (more than 1.4 billion tonnes per annum), steelmaking is responsible for a large percentage, approximately 6.7%, of world anthropogenic CO2 emissions [1]. By far the largest input of the carbon into conventional steelmaking is as coke, which is essential to blast furnace ironmaking. A typical fuel rate for blast furnace ironmaking is 450 kg of fuel per tonne of hot metal (THM). (""Fuel"" includes coke and injectants which partially replace coke; pulverized coal and natural gas are typical injectants.) Assuming the fuels to contain 90% carbon on average, and since nearly all of this carbon exits the steel plant as CO2, a fuel rate of 450 kg is equivalent to a CO2 intensity of 1485 kg/THM – by far the largest part of the total CO2 intensity of steelmaking.Blast furnace ironmaking is expected to remain the main source of new iron units; this paper gives some estimates of the extents to which further reductions in carbon intensity from blast furnace ironmaking is possible. A recent European assessment suggested that blast furnace process intensification options such as increased pulverized-coal injection or natural gas injection would yield only modest energy savings [2]. However, if the focus is on CO2 emissions rather than on total energy use, there would be an advantage to using fuels – such as natural gas – which have lower carbon contents relative to energy content."

Jan 1, 2014

By V. Blet

Rare earth elements (REE) are regarded today as highly critical raw materials but currently lack suitable recycling processes. A combined hydro- and pyrometallurgical process aimed at REE recovery from used NdFeB permanent magnets was recently developed by the CEA. The process integrates the physico-chemical treatment of magnets, followed by a solvent extraction step for the recovery and intra-REE separation using a selective extractant. A subsequent pyrometallurgical treatment via molten chloride salt electrolysis allowed the isolation of pure Dy metal. Technical-economic assessment and life-cycle analysis were also conducted. Following this first successful demonstration, a new project aimed at the recovery of REE from end-of-life nickel-metal-hydride batteries is currently being developed in association with industrial and academic partners. The project aims at evaluating from an experimental and economic perspective different processes converging at the production of value-added products such as cermet materials for catalytic applications, purified REO concentrates, or metallic alloys.

By A. Rios

ENAMl&apos;s Paipote Smelter commenced operations in 1951. At present, it processes 230,000 tonnes/year of green feed in a conventional smelter, which comprises one reverberatory furnace, two Hoboken, one Peirce-Smith converters and one rotary anode furnace. The feed is composed of 83% copper concentrate and 17% metallic copper precipitates, which results in a feed average grade of 32% of copper content. The final products are 75,000 tonnes/year of copper anodes and 48,000 tonnes/year of sulphuric acid. At present, the plant is undergoing a modernization to expand the smelter capacity to 300,000 tonnes/year of green feed and increase the sulphuric acid production to 100,000 tonnes/year. This will be achieved with the installation of an El Teniente Converter and an expansion in the acid plant. The work began in November 1991 and is scheduled to be in operaton by March 1993. The paper provides an overview of the modernization plans and results achieved to-date.

Jan 1, 1993

The standard procedure of fire refining consists of sulphur removal via air injected through tuyeres, arsenic slagging via soda-lime flux and oxygen reduction by air or oxygen deficient air or a steam fuel mixtures. The use of porous plugs to stir with an inert gas has been mainly considered as a surface renewing agent that increases the product quality and shorten the refining cycle. In the present study the effect of the bottom stirring by nitrogen gas injection through porous plugs for the treatment of the crude copper in the range of 400-150 ppm sulphur, 3,000-2,000 ppm arsenic and 14,000-7,000 ppm oxygen content was investigated. The combined effect stirring-reducing, by the use of air or a steam fuel mixtures through tuyeres for oxygen removal, follows a kinetics of first order where the constant, K, can be represented by the following polynomial expression: K = A * R2 + B * R + C Where A, Band C are constants that depend on the nitrogen flow rate and R is the air-fuel ratio or the steam-fuel used in the reducing step. Depending on the optimization of the flow of nitrogen and the air-fuel or steam-fuel mixture and only if just the oxidation, complexing and reducing steps are considered, the process cycle might be shortened by 45%.

Jan 1, 2003

By F. Kongoli

Viscosity is an important parameter of copper smelting and converting processes. It affects the settling of matte or metal droplets in the slag, distribution of elements etc, Despite this importance, confusion exists on the viscosity of copper smelting slags as a result of disagreements found among the measured viscosity data of several authors especially in the slags of high ferric iron content and close to magnetite precipitation. In this work a critical review of the existing data on the viscosity of copper smelting slags has been first carried out and the effect of oxygen potential on the viscosity of copper smelting slags has been clarified through a coupled quantification of viscosity and liquidus temperature. The confusion in the literature has been clarified and the importance of the relation between the viscosity and the liquidus temperature is discussed,

Jan 1, 2003

By Phillip A. Armstrong, Charles A. Lewinsohn, John H. Gordon

"This paper describes the opportunity offered by employing systems based on mixed conductive ceramics, in particular, ceramics conductive to oxygen ions and electrons, in reducing CO2 emissions from metallurgical production. Membranes based on these mixed conducting properties enable commercial viability of several attractive metallurgical processes. One of these processes utilizes modular, ceramic-membrane structures for the generation of pure oxygen, in tonnage quantity. The membrane-based systems offer significant capital savings and operating efficiencies in various metallurgical processes. The current status of this technology is summarized below.IntroductionCryogenic oxygen supply technology is currently the state-of-the-art for applications that require large quantities of oxygen (hundreds to thousands of tons per day). Cryogenic technology, however, requires substantial energy inputs and, hence, adds significant costs and emissions to processes. Furthermore, cryogenic oxygen supply technology is mature and there is relatively little potential for substantial capital cost reduction or efficiency improvement in coming decades. Non-cryogenic technologies offer a means to reduce the environmental footprint and cost of the oxygen supply facility in various applications.Ion Transport membranesCommercially available non-cryogenic air separation technologies, such as adsorption-based and polymeric membrane-based methods, do not afford the economies of scale that the cryogenic distillation enjoys. Therefore, industrial gas industry researchers began searching for alternatives to the relatively inactive and unselective polymeric membrane materials available. In the late 1980’s, Air Products began developing a new class of highly selective membrane materials with exceptionally high activity for oxygen transport. The materials constitute a class of oxide ceramics, and conduct both oxygen (as oxygen ions) and electrons in the same membrane, separating oxygen from air electrochemically. Numerous detailed process economics studies have shown that, based on these ion-transport membranes (ITM’s), the cost of oxygen can be reduced by approximately one-third relative to that obtained from state-of-the-art cryogenic oxygen supply technology, through a combination of capital cost savings and efficiency improvements. [1,2,3]"

Jan 1, 2008

By Takahiko Okura

Most non-ferrous raw materials are associated with sulphur. To extract the metals, the sulphur is recovered typically as Sulphuric acid or liquid S02. On the other hand, natural gas may contain over 20% of hydrogen sulphide (H2S) and a huge quantity of elemental sulphur is produced through oil and gas refining processes in the world. A large fraction of the sulphur mined from natural sources is eventually returned to the earth as fertilizers, by-products of desulphurisation and neutralisation processes, or as fugitives to the atmosphere. However, the supply and demand for sulphur are in imbalance. Such situation urges to develop a new smelting process without sulphuric acid production. This paper briefly reviews the global sulphur balance and the technologies for recovering elemental sulphur. The core of this paper is a proposal to convert S02 gas to elemental sulphur by using organic materials. Some results of thermodynamic calculations and experiments are presented.

Jan 1, 2003

By John A. Clark, Danylo Oryshchyn, Casey Carney, Stephen Gerdemann, Cathy Summers, Thomas Ochs

"Limited analysis of combustion gas streams where carbon capture is not of interest is done mainly to ascertain operation parameters. Stringent regulations on acid gases and particulates promote careful flue gas analysis. Unregulated components are typically not analyzed. Typically not more than four points (two in the boiler, and one each in the flue and the stack) are sampled. A successful oxy-fuel process with carbon capture and compression is anticipated to require as many as 12 sample points with analysis for water, nitrogen, oxygen, argon, NOx, SOx, and carbon monoxide. Carbon dioxide captured for beverages produces a high value product and the cost associated with analysis is warranted. However, carbon capture for disposal must keep all costs to a minimum. This paper will compare alternative approaches for cost-effective sampling and analysis of the carbon dioxide product streams from oxy-fuel combustion, through all stages of production through compression and pipeline/vessel delivery.IntroductionAnalysis of gases in an oxy-combustion process with carbon capture is essential to the operations of the oxy-fired boiler and the subsequent collection, compression, and purification of carbon dioxide. The process is charged with pure oxygen and not-so-pure carbon in the form of coal at the front end, generating a product of mainly carbon dioxide with traces of argon, nitrogen, sulfur compounds, nitrogen compounds, oxygen, hydrogen, and mercury. It is possible that hydrogen chloride and hydrogen sulfide may also be present in trace amounts [1]. The trace components primarily come from impurities contained in coal such as water, sulfur, nitrogen, and volatile organic compounds. Coal also contains a good deal of mineral matter that is transformed into ash during combustion, becoming particulates that can complicate the analysis regimes utilizing standard analytical equipment."

Jan 1, 2010

By R. Boom, Y. V. Meteleva-Fischer, B. Kraaijveld, H. Kuntzel

"Segregation of impurities during refining of metallurgical grade silicon (MG-Si) is an option to produce solar grade silicon (SG-Si). Directional solidification is a last step in production of SG-Si effective for removal of metallic impurities. The possibility is investigated to use metallic impurities originally present in MG-Si for removing boron and phosphorus. MG-Si has been treated using two methods: 1) alloying with calcium and 2) refining with Na2O-CaO-SiO2 slag, both by controlled cooling. The microstructure of silicon and the impurities distribution have been studied before and after the treatments. Using EPMA phosphorus and boron have been detected in 1-2 wt% concentration range in several intermetallic compounds in grain boundaries after both treatments. This observation points to a different possible mechanism of silicon refining from boron and phosphorus. Controlled cooling improves migration of phosphorus and boron to the silicide phases in grain boundaries, which can be removed by acid leaching treatment.2. IntroductionStandards for silicon solar cells and growing demand on “green” energy require economical and efficient route to the production of solar grade silicon. Refining of cheap metallurgical grade silicon is one of the promising options, where application of existing metallurgical approaches can result in cost-efficient production on industrial scale. Focus in refining is on impurities, which are most difficult to remove: B, P, Al, Ti, due to their large segregation coefficient in silicon and low vapour pressure [1]. Moreover, more environmentally friendly technology in comparison to the traditional Siemens process [2] will be in accordance with societal needs. Based on properties of common impurities in metallurgical grade silicon, alloying refining and slag refining are suggested as competitive techniques having potential effect on removal of impurities harmful for conversion of solar energy [3, 4]. Alloying with Ca followed by acid leaching was found to be effective for removal of Fe and Ti from silicon [5] and to enhance also removal of boron [6] and phosphorus [7, 8]. In the work of Inoue et al. [8] drastically increasing removal of phosphorus from silicon has been observed with an increase of Ca content and a thermodynamics-based explanation was provided. Since phosphorus has been found to condense in the secondary precipitate mainly composed of CaSi2, it can be removed together with iron and titanium by consecutive acid leaching treatment. Slag refining is one of the metallurgical methods proposed to be effective for refining of metallurgical grade silicon from boron [9, 10]. Slags with additions of the following oxides to silica have shown positive effect on removal of boron: CaO [11-13], Na2O [11,14]. Mechanism of slag refining from boron is based on oxidation of boron followed by its incorporation in the slag network [9,11]; the same mechanism is suggested for refining from phosphorus taking into account that oxides of boron and phosphorus are known as network-formers [15]."

Jan 1, 2012

By Takahiko Okura

Most non-ferrous raw materials are associated with sulphur. To extract the metals, the sulphur is recovered typically as sulphuric acid or liquid SOz, On the other hand, natural gas may contain over 20% of hydrogen sulphide (HzS) and a huge quantity of elemental sulphur is produced through oil and gas refining processes in the world. A large fraction of the sulphur mined from natural sources is eventually returned to the earth as fertilizers, by-products of desulphurisation and neutralisation processes, or as fugitives to the atmosphere. However, the supply and demand for sulphur are in imbalance. Such situation urges to develop a new smelting process without sulphuric acid production. This paper briefly reviews the global sulphur balance and the technologies for recovering elemental sulphur. The core of this paper is a proposal to convert SO2 gas to elemental sulphur by using organic materials. Some results of thermodynamic calculations and experiments are presented.

Jan 1, 2003

By Xiao-hui Fan, Li-shun Yuan, Xu-ling Chen, Wei Lv, Min Gan, Yi Wang

"As the amount of ferrous scrap increases every year, it becomes more and more urgent to deal with this iron-bearing resource properly. This paper puts forward a method on resource-oriented utilization of ferrous scrap (cold-bonded pelletizing), and these cold-bonded pellets can be used as coolant in a converter. The influence on the pellets qualities by using different kinds of chloride as rust agents is studied, and results show that the strength of cold-bonded pellets increases significantly by using a combination of the three kinds of chloride -NaCl,MgClz,FeCh, their best dosages are 1.2%, 0.2%, 0.1% respectively. Other iron-bearing materials also have an effect upon the pellets strength, by adding 5% iron powder and maintaining for 48h, the compressive strength of the clumps surpass 2500N/A, dropping strength surpass 4 times/ A, and 10% iron slag or 20% steel slag can replace 5% iron powder while obtaining the comparative quality. The influence of different ratios of three ferrous scrap (converter mud, iron scale and dust) is further studied, and results show that when the ratio is 30% : 30% : 40%, the pellet strength reaches the maximum. After maintaining for 24~48h, the clumps can meet the mechanical as well as the physical-chemical requirements as BOF steelmaking refrigerant.IntroductionGreat amounts of converter mud, dust and iron scale are produced in steel production process. These materials are of great values, and their accumulation not only leads to environmental pollution, but also wastes the precious resources, which restricts the sustainable development of the steel industry [1,2] The main approach at present to dealing with the ferrous scrap is to add them into sintering. But in this way, the utilization factor of sintering and the quality of sinter decline while the energy consumption increases [3].Therefore, more advanced and efficient technology is needed to make the best of these iron resources. Cold consolidation of ferrous scrap is a simple process that has many advantages such as less investment, quicker effect, lower energy and lower cost [4-5] But the conventional maintaining period is too long, usually up to four-six weeks, and the pellet strength is low. Therefore, the key points of the cold-bonded pelletizing are to develop a new adhesive [4,5] to shorten the natural maintenance cycle and to improve the strength of the pellets. A method on resource-oriented utilization of ferrous scrap (cold-bonded pelletizing) is brought forward, and these cold-bonded pellets can be used as coolant in converter. After maintaining for 48h, these cold-bonded pellets can satisfy the mechanical requirements to replace the converter coolant [6]."

Jan 1, 2013

By Wanderson Silva Rodrigues, Paulo Adão Marinho dos Santos, José Antonio Silva Souza, Luis Alves Venancio, Emanuel Negrão Macedo

"1 AbstractThe production of alumina from bauxite using the Bayer process generates 0.7 to 2.0 ton of the residue known as red mud per ton of alumina. This material has no large scale current use and is usually stored. This paper shows that it can be used in a suspension with water as a gas effluent cleaner with high efficiency to remove SO2. It can substitute other materials currently used reducing the overall environmental impact and potentially reducing the cost of gas treatment.2 IntroductionThe production of millions of tons per year of alumina around the world generates from 0.7 to 2.0 ton of the residue known as red mud per ton of alumina. The vast majority of the red mud is stored in large sealed lakes. Due to the high reactivity this material is considered dangerous and currently there is no operating process capable of reuse all the material produced at any refinery. These lakes after filled of solid material eventually have the surface revegetated. In any cases they will remain as an environmental passive and need monitoring for decades. The search of industrial processes that combine the cleaning of gas effluents emission and reuse of these residues can contribute to the reduction of the overall impact of the alumina production process.The main objective of this work is to study the efficiency of the red mud as alternative raw material for the control of emissions of SO2 in combustion gases. Usually this is made through alkaline solutions of CaCO3 or NaOH in absorbing equipments like spray towers or packed column. This project main objective is to study the reaction of the SO2 with a suspension of red mud and water in order to obtain the basic parameters to design equipment capable of process this reaction on a pilot scale. With that goal compositions of red mud on spray were processed with flow of gas containing SO2 with concentration similar to the exhaust gases of the combustion process of the refineries."

Jan 1, 2011