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By Jerome P. Downey

In the thermal treatment of electric arc furnace (EAF) dusts, zinc is reduced, volatilized, and ultimately recovered either as liquid metal in a splash condenser or as solid zinc oxide in bag filters. During the process, the duet's chlorine and fluorine content also enters the gas phase and condenses as dross in the splash condenser or as salts which contaminate the zinc oxide product. Pretreatment of EAF dust by pyrohydrolysis appeared to offer a means of minimizing the duet's halogen content. The primary research objectives were to experimentally verify the technical viability of pyrohydrolysis and delineate the process parameters requisite for efficient halogen removal. To this end, representative EAF duet samples were secured and characterized by x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Mössbauer analyses. Specific- experimentation focused on the response of halogen extraction to variations in temperature, retention time, water vapor partial pressure, and various additives. The experimental results proved that 97 to 99 percent chlorine extraction and 80 to 85 percent fluorine extraction are consistently achieved when EAF dusts are blended with silica and roasted at temperatures of 850°C or greater in a furnace atmosphere of 75% steam (diluted by air). A statistical analysis further established that more than- a single optimal point exists, thus affording flexibility in parameter selection (e.g., by increasing temperature, the necessary retention time and additive concentrations are decreased). The findings substantiate the feasibility of pyrohydrolysis roasting in reducing the chlorine and fluorine in the EAF dust to a level that will obviate industrial concerns about halogen contamination. The end-product of the pyrohydrolysis procedure is a de-halogenated, self-fluxing calcine which can be directly charged to a plasma or flame reactor. The paper includes design parameters and flow diagrams illustrating the pyrohydrolysis process integrated with the plasma and flame reactor technologies.

Jan 1, 1992

By Wei-Tong Du, Xiao-Ping Liang, Yu Wang

The structural properties for ternary molten CaO–SiO2–B2O3 system with varying B2O3/SiO2 ratios at a fixed CaO content were calculated by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. The simulation results revealed that with the increasing of B2O3/SiO2 mol ratio, the bond length of B-O was approximately constant at 1.35 Å, and the coordination number for B (CNB-O) was observed to vary from 3.40 to 3.51, and the average angle of O-B-O increases from 105° to nearly 120°, implying that the geometric stability of structure is reducing sharply. AlsoQ3 andQ4 tetrahedral species (tetrahedron with three and four bridging oxygens respectively) decrease with the increasing of B2O3/SiO2 mol ratio, and the proportion of (Q3 + Q4) decrease linearly from 0.6 to nearly 0, suggesting that B2O3 may behave as a network-breaking basic oxide in the CaO–SiO2–B2O3 system.

Mar 1, 2017

By A. Dutta, B. Devulapalli, A. Mukhopadhyay, E. W. Grald

"Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFO) has matured over the past two decades as an analysis tool for conducting virtual experiments with significant time and cost savings. It complements and reduces physical testing. CFO has penetrated the diverse materials industry in much the same way as Computer Aided Design (CAD) did more than a decade ago. As the basic numerical algorithms used in CFO have steadily improved, so have the reliability, consistency and user-friendliness improved significantly, too. Other recent trends have also contributed to the rapid growth and widespread adoption of CFO. In this presentation, CFO applications from several materials processing industries will be presented using case studies. Emphasis will be on metals, glass and semiconductor applications.IntroductionThe term materials processing covers a diverse array of industrial applications and products today. From the continuous casting of steel, to the deposition of semiconductor materials atom by atom, to the extrusion of molten polymers, materials processing applications span an incredible range of length scale, process times, pressures, temperatures and velocities. The properties of the materials themselves, in terms of density, viscosity, thermal conductivity, etc., can be complex functions of temperature, shear rate, chemical composition and time. And the processing equipment may be very complicated in geometric shape.Computational fluid dynamics (CFD), the technique of solving the governing equations of fluid motion and other related phenomena using a computer, has enjoyed widespread and rapid growth, which started in the aerospace and automotive industries. More recently, CFD has also been successfully applied to a great many materials processing problems, in spite of the challenges described in the previous paragraph. The reasons for the growing usage of CFD in materials processing are many. Using CFD to test design options and reduce the number of physical prototypes can decrease the time and cost associated with new product and process development. CFD gives insight and provides detailed predictions of operating conditions in lieu of difficult, intrusive and often expensive experimental methods. CFD can be used as an aid to scale-up processes from lab or pilot scale to full production. Troubleshooting the performance of existing equipment is often carried out with the help of CFD. Determining how an existing piece of process equipment will operate under new conditions, or with new input ,materials, is also a common task for CFD."

Jan 1, 2004

By E. J. Peuraniemi

Primary copper production using suspension smelting techniques like Outokumpu Flash Smelting always causes some dust formation. Flue dust particles are formed when sulphide feed material reacts violently with oxygen inducing particle disintegration and total desulphurisation of fragments. In the process, flue dust follows the off-gases to the heat recovery boiler (HRB) where its sulphation takes place because of prevailing conditions. Sulphation releases heat and causes also a drop in particle melting temperature and, further, particle sticking to the walls and heat exchange tube banks. Sulphation of synthetic CU20 particles were examined using a laboratory scale fluid-bed reactor. This study aims to a better understanding of flue dust behaviour in a HRB and, thus, to a better operational practise and design of a HRB. The effect of PSO/PO2 -ratio and temperature on the sulphation kinetics were tested. Standard chemical analysis, light optical and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy were used to examine the samples.

Jan 1, 2001

By P. Chris Pistorius

An example is presented to illustrate the joint effect of local reaction equilibria and mass transfer limitations, for reactions during ladle refining of steel. The example relies on some of the kinetic principles that David Robertson has employed to quantify many metallurgical processes. In calcium treatment of alumina inclusions in aluminum-killed steels, solid CaS forms as an intermediate reaction product. During subsequent reaction, CaS disappears and calcium aluminate forms; at the same time, aluminum and sulfur dissolve in the steel. Kinetic analysis shows that the rate of this reaction is not limited by mass transfer of dissolved aluminum and sulfur away from the reacting inclusions. The reaction rate is likely limited by transport of dissolved calcium. This example also illustrates the use of FactSage macros for kinetic modeling.

Jan 1, 2014

By Baozhong Zhao

Experimental results have shown that fluxing with soda ash (Na:zC03) can remove As and Sb from molten copper at the rate of As>Sb, but is relatively ineffective in removing Hi. The rate of impurity removal is controlled by impurity mass transfer in the metal phase. In this paper, a mathematical model was developed to describe the impurity removal phenomena. The model incorporates the effects of molten bath mixing intensity, soda ash feeding rate, oxygen content in the molten copper and soda ash fluxing by surface addition and injection. The model predictions are in good agreement with experimental results and may be used in designing large scale tests.

Jan 1, 1996

By Rodney J. Ishak

The reduction of Mn3O4 to MnO has been investigated in a thermobalance apparatus. The charge was composed of manganese ore (decomposed by heating/calcination or pre-reduction to mainly Mn304) and coke. The material was charged to a crucible, which was suspended in the balance. CO-gas was distributed through a grid in the bottom of the crucible. Two sizes of ores were used; 2.4-4.8 mm and 6.7-9.5 mm. Coke particles were in the size range 4.8-6.7 mm. Experiments were conducted in the 900-1100°C temperature range. The composition of the product gas was monitored continuously. External mass transport between bulk gas and particle surface does not seem to limit the rate of reduction. Assuming that both diffusion through product layer and chemical reaction at the interface between MnO and Mn304 are rate controlling, the data was tried both in a shrinking core model and in a grain model using regression. The grain model gives the best physical description of the process, because the reactant is in fact a porous medium. With this model the effective diffusivity was calculated to be in the 1.5-6.10-5 m2/s range. The pore size was mainly between 0.1 and 10 um.

Jan 1, 2003

By V. A. Luganov

The behavior of arsenopyrite under heating has been studied by many scientists. It has been already established that under heating at more than 650°C and without air access the arsenopyrite dissociates with the formation of one atom arsenic. Under vacuum the dissociation process begins at 550 DC with the formation of elemental arsenic. The residue of dissociation process contains pyrrhotite and throilitc. In the presence of pyrite, arsenopyrite dissociates under lower temperature and with a higher velocity than without it. The industrial realization of fool scale processing of arsenic bearing raw materials is possible only by the use of standard equipment and oxygen containing blast In this view the paper presents the results of the study on the effect of oxygen in the gaseous phase and its addition into the charge of pyrite in the process of arsenopyrite decomposition. Thermodynamic analyses showed that under thermal processing of arsenopyrite in the presence of pyrite and limited quantities of oxygen in the gaseous phase the formation of arsenic sulfides is possible according to the following reactions:

Jan 1, 2003

By Zhijing Zhang, Ramana G. Reddy

"The viscosity of molten oxides is one of the important physical properties since viscosity has a decisive influence on fluid flow. The knowledge of the viscosity of molten oxides is essential for modeling and controlling of metallurgical process. In the present study, viscosities of high basic Na2O-B2O3 and Na2O-SiO2 binary melts and viscosities of Na2O-SiO2-B2O3 ternary melts were measured as a function of temperature and composition. Experiments were carried out using rotary viscometer and graphite components. Our experimental results were compared with those in literature. Based on the current experimental data, the previously developed viscosity model was modified. The characteristic features of viscosities of these melts have been discussed. The predicted viscosity results are in excellent agreement with the present experimental data in the temperature range with molten state samples. IntroductionThe viscosity of molten oxides is one of the important physical properties since this property has a decisive influence on fluid flow, and is one of key factors to be taken into consideration in process modeling. The manufacturing operations require the viscosity of molten oxides to be within certain ranges. Although, some viscosity measurements on borosilicate systems have been carried out [1-4], the viscosity data in literature are available only for a few temperatures and cover small composition ranges. The agreement between the results of these works is not satisfactory [I-4]. Even the viscosities of binary systems Na2O-B2O 3 and Na2O-SiO2 generally are well studied, the available viscosity data in literature are only found in the composition range of O to 0.333 mole fraction ofNa2O. The aim of the present study is to provide a base with accurate experimental data for reliable model extrapolation."

Jan 1, 1999

By Daguang Lu

The section of sintering and BF (blast furnace) is very important in iron-making process. In practice, the scheduling is so extensive that three faults unfavorable to continuous product will be easier to happen. This paper introduces the integration Petri Net and GA (genetic algorithm) as suitable tools for simulation and optimization of scheduling to section of sintering- BF under a certain hot iron or-der. The situation of the iron plant Chongqing Iron and Steel Company is researched in approach above mentioned. By analysis, the conclusion is drawn that scheduling with optimized values can maintain continuity of key operations , can satisfy order of hot iron in maximal degree and can keep the best stability of key storages.

Jan 1, 2009

By Michael I. Morris

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Transuranic and Mixed Waste Focus Area (TMFA), funded from fiscal year (FY) 1996 though FY 2002, was tasked with finding solutions for the mixed waste treatment problems of the DOE complex. During TMFA's initial technical baseline development process, three of the top four technology deficiencies identified were the need for amalgamation, stabilization, and separation/removal technologies for the treatment of mercury-contaminated mixed waste. The Mercury Working Group (HgWG), a selected group of representatives from DOE sites with significant mercury waste inventories, assisted TMFA in soliciting, identifying, initiating, and managing efforts to address these areas. Solicitations and contract awards were made to the private sector to demonstrate both the amalgamation and stabilization processes using actual mixed wastes. The goal was to develop separation and removal processes that will address DOE's needs. This paper discusses the technology selection process, development activities, and the accomplishments of TMF A through these various activities.

Jan 1, 2003

The effect of change in slag composition upon metal losses to the slag and the relationship between slag composition and slag matte separation was investigated at 1400°C. The synthetic slags containing CaO, MgO, SiO2,, A1,0, and FeO were similar to those employed in the electric furnace smelting of sulphide Cu-Ni concentrates containing PGM (Precious Group Metals) from the Merensky Reef of South Africa. The matte with a grade of 9.3% Cu and 16.0% Ni was a typical electric furnace product. The results indicated that the Cu and Ni solubility in the slag increases with the increase of the basicity ratio and CaO and MgO contents of the slag. At constant CaO/MgO ratios the rise in basicity decreases the metal losses. When FeO and SiO2 contents of the slag are kept constant, the substitution of MgO with CaO decreases the metal losses. The relationship between slag composition and matte-slag separation was found to depend primarily on the basicity ratio and the FeO content of the slag. The net effect comes from a strong interaction of the two in such a way that increasing basicity and decreasing FeO contents deteriorate the clean separation of the two phases.

Jan 1, 1994

By A. Kontopoulos

The extraction of nickel and cobalt from low-grade greek laterites by sulfuric acid leaching has been studied. Batch and continuous mini-plant atmospheric leaching as well as pressure leaching techniques were employed. Atmospheric leaching at temperatures as high as 95 OC generally resulted in low Ni extractions (up to 82%), high acid consumption (650-850 kg/t ore or 80-100 kg/kg Ni) and high Fe co-dissolution (30%). Pressure leaching at 260 OC increased Ni extraction to over 98%, with minimal Fe co-dissolution (2.5%); acid consumption was 300 kg/t ore (31 kg/kg Ni). Detailed experimental results and conceptual flow sheets for atmospheric and pressure leaching are presented.

Jan 1, 1991

By B. Q. Li, Y. Shu, K Lynn

"This paper discusses the effects of magnetic field and internal radiation on the melt flow and solidification morphology during solidification processing of oxide crystals for optoelectronic and remote sensing applications. The numerical solution of the integral differential equation characterizing the internal radiation and the magnetohydrodynamic equations describing the magnetic and transport phenomena is obtained by applying the combined discontinuous and continuous finite element method. The results show that both internal radiation and an externally applied magnetic field can have important effects on the melt flow and solidification behavior during the melt processing of oxide materials.IntroductionOptical single crystals are widely used in optical and electronic devices. These crystals are often grown from high temperature oxide melts under strictly controlled conditions. As in the well-known single crystal growth processes for semiconductor wafers, thermal gradient in the melt is a major contributing fuctor to the oxide melt pool. Unlike the semiconductor single crystal growth processes, however, the oxide melt is semitransparent and internal thermal radiation plays an important role in redistributing the thermal energy in the melt pool. Our recent experience with pilot-scale plant measurements also shows that the oxide melt is electrically conducting, although its electrical conductivity is considered much lower than the liquid metal or semiconductor melt.The fact that the oxide melt is absorbing and emitting in the thermal radiation frequency range makes it difficult to study the thermal energy transport in the melt pool. This is because thermal radiation is governed by a hyperbolic differential equation, which is different from those describing the transport processes in liquids. Also, our understanding of how thermal radiation interacts with other transport mechanisms such as convection and conduction is rather limited at point in time, in particular in high temperature oxide melts for optical single crystal processing."

Jan 1, 2004

By E. Fregeau-Wu

The mineralogy and grain size distribution of phases in a steelmaking slag and experimental products from the heating of the slag under various conditions were determined to explore the possibility of recycling of the iron and manganese to the blast furnace. The steelmaking slags consisted of three major phases: dicalcium silicate, dicalcium ferrite, and Mg-Mn-wustite. Most of the phosphorus was contained in the dicalcium silicate and to lesser extent in the dicalcium ferrite. Due to the fine grain size of the dicalcium silicate, grinding and magnetic separation required pretreatment to increase the grain size and hence the liberation. Experiments on a steelmaking slag were conducted by heating the slag to 1633-1748°K( and slow-cooling in an inert atmosphere at various rates with or without the addition of fluorspar (CaF2) as a flux. Grain size distribution analyses of the starting material and the slow-cooled products were performed using the SEM-IPP area scan method and the QEM*SEM linear scan method. Comparable and reproducible results were obtained on the same sample using both methods. A size versus volume percent plot showed the increased grain growth most effectively. Examples of the grain size distributions obtained were used to show that a higher soaking temperature prior to slow-cooling, a slower cooling rate, and the addition of fluorspar to the slag promoted grain growth.

Jan 1, 1989

By Corby G. Anderson

In the majority of industrial operations recovering gold and silver by hydrometallurgical means, cyanide is the predominant lixiviant. However, as an economic alternative, production of massive quantifies of silver chloride was done on an industrial scale in the nitrous-sulfuric acid pressure leaching of a refractory precious metals concentrate. This proven process required no cyanide. Thus, because of the large volumes encountered during day-to-day plant operation, the need for efficient and low cost methods of silver chloride precipitation, reduction and materials handling was mandatory. As such, this paper covers the evolution of plant scale precipitation, filtration, washing, reduction and control of silver chloride processing. As well, an in-depth description of the unique leaching system is included.

Jan 1, 1998

By Duclerc Fernandes Parra, Washington Luiz Oliani, Christiano Gianesi Bastos Andrade, Ademar Benevolo Lugão, Danilo Marin Fermino, Francisco R. Valenzuela Diaz

This work concerns the study of the effect of discarded bond paper on the mechanical behavior of polypropylene/organophilic clay nanocomposites. A brown polycationic bentonite from the state of Paraíba, Brazil, was treated with sodium carbonate to transform it into a bentonite that swells in water and then treated with hexadecyltrimethylammonium ammonium chloride to transform it into a bentonite that swells in organic liquids. Polypropylene with 3 % polypropylene graft compatibilizer (PP-g-AM) was mixed with 1 % and 2 % by weight of discarded bond paper and with 1% and 2% by weight of organophilic clay using a twin-screw extruder. The specimens were prepared by the injection process. The clay as received and after organophilization was characterized by XRD, SEM, and capacity of swelling in water and in organic solvents. The nanocomposite specimens were characterized by XRD and thermal analysis. The mechanical behavior of the injected specimens was evaluated by strength, flexural and impact tests. The nanocomposites showed improved mechanical properties compared with the polymer without filler.

Jan 1, 2015

By Richard D. Hagni

An enhanced Interest in pyrometallurgical dusts has recently emerged due to increased world-wide environmental concerns. Mineralogical study of dusts samples from lead sinter plants. lead smelters, and secondary steel mill electric arc furnaces has shown that they can be readily studied by reflected light microscopy. These dusts typically are composed of small particles sufficiently large that their mineralogical identification and characterization can be conducted under the reflecting light microscope. Scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive spectroscopic analysis (SEM-EDS) has been used to confirm optical identifications and chemical compositions. The sinter and blast furnace dusts at the Doe Run Smelter at Herculaneum, Missouri are commonly about 20-150 11m. They consist predominantly of galena, chalcopyrite, sinter. slag. coke. and particles. Dusts from remote sampling sites 112-1 mile from the lead smelter are composed of similar particles and abundant fine-grained particles, less than 10 um. of locally derived calcium-aluminum silicates. Electric arc furnace (EAF) dusts are mostly spherical and less than 10 11m. They consist predominantly of iron oxides (magnetite. franklinite. jacobsite and solid solutions of these spinels), zincite. and calcium-iron silicate glass, together with smaller amounts of hematite. sylvite. coke and metallic iron. Reflected light microscopy is rapid provides mineralogical data on individual grains within dust particles. and allows direct observations of textural intergrowths in pyrometallurgical dust particles.

Jan 1, 1991

By Andre L. De Vegt

Hydrogen sulfide is an expensive chemical used in nickel, zinc and copper mining and metallurgical operations for selective recovery and concentration of metals, from leach water streams, acid plant blow down streams, refinery electrolyte bleeds and precious metal, plant bleeds. Hydrogen sulfide is either produced on site by catalytic reduction of elemental sulfur or transported to the site as liquefied hydrogen sulfide (H2S) or as a sodium sulfide solution (NaHS) Biologically produced hydrogen sulfide has economically very interesting, application possibilities in the mining and metallurgical industry. Converting sulfates from waste streams into usable hydrogen sulfide by biological reduction results in operational cost savings in existing lime treatment systems. H2S can be produced biologically for less-than $500/ton S. For the past ten years Paques has been engaged in the development and installation of treatment systems based on biotechnological processes to remove sulfur compounds from water, air and gaseous streams. Paques has designed and installed a groundwater treatment system for the Budelco zinc refinery in the Netherlands to remove sulfate and heavy metals. The hydrogen sulfide produced is used for recovery of metals,, mainly zinc, from the ground water stream. The system has been operating since May 1992 treating a flow of 5000 m3/d. At Kennecott's Bingham Canyon Utah copper mine, a pilot plant started operation in November 1995 to develop the process for selective recovery of copper from leach water using biologically produced hydrogen sulfide from sulfate containing groundwater. Other pilot plants are operated at DOE's Pittsburgh Research Center and at Cominco Research focusing on selective recovery of metals.

Jan 1, 1998

By S. J. Buckler

Many chemical and metallurgical processes use submerged gas injection to increase contact area between gas and liquid phases in order to promote faster overall reaction or refining rates. The total interfacial area produced by gas injection through lances, nozzles or tuyeres is both an important design parameter for new vessels and a measurement for estimating the maximum processing capacity of existing equipment. Estimating total interfacial area from submerged injection into industrial pyrometallurgical vessels from existing knowledge is a problem with two aspects. The first difficulty is the difference in behaviour of cold (aqueous) and hot (molten metal) systems, implying that existing models and correlations of gas-liquid behaviour developed in low temperature systems are not necessarily appropriate for estimation of high temperature behaviour. The second difficulty is the issue of scale-up of correlations from laboratory to industrial sized vessels. The work presented in this paper is part of an ongoing experimental investigation, at the GK Williams CRC for Extractive Metallurgy, to quantify the total gas-liquid interfacial area available in pyrometallurgical vessels using chemical measurement methods. The effects of three operating variables, injected gas flow rate, nozzle diameter and nozzle submergence, on total interfacial area are quantified in a IOOL aqueous system - the first stage of a three stage process in examining the implications for scale-up of high temperature, medium-scale results are discussed. The results of work at high, injected gas flow rates (up to 500/min) show that the submerged Froude number is not sufficient for use as the sole variable in a predictive model of total interfacial area. Further work is being undertaken to identify other dimensionless variables that will better represent the gas-liquid characteristics in submerged injection that influence the formation of total interfacial area. The second and third stages of the experimental investigation involve measuring the total interfacial area in a large-scale (1000L) aqueous sodium sulphite and small-medium scale molten metal baths.

Jan 1, 2002