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At its Copper Cliff Smelter, Inco Limited processes a bulk copper-nickel concentrate in two Inco oxygen flash furnaces. The furnace matte is converted to low iron matte for further processing, and the molten converter slag is recycled to the flash furnaces. The flash furnace slag is discarded. Natural gas or coke supplies a minor proportion of the process heat requirements, thus limiting the flash furnace matte grade to the target 45% CuNiCo. Coke addition to the furnace offers a potential means of establishing a reducing barrier on the surface of the molten bath. Such a practice would be conducive to producing sulfur deficient (partially metallized) matte. At the same iron content, the iron activity of sulfur deficient matte is higher than that of regular matte. A supernatant coke barrier could, therefore, be expected to lead to higher nickel and cobalt recoveries, reduction or even elimination of magnetite furnace bottom build-up and increased sulfur elimination as SO2 in the flash furnace. Preliminary experiments were conducted in a mini plant flash furnace to investigate the effect on process metallurgy of the suggested modified scheme. This paper presents the experimental results and discusses key aspects of the possible operation of the Inco flash furnace with a coke barrier separating the freeboard from the molten bath.

Jan 1, 2003

By Petrus Christiaan Pistorius, Farzin Fatollahi-Fard

The production of synthetic rutile—a common starting material for most titanium production processes—from iron-rich titanium minerals such as pseudorutile and ilmenite is described. The process for “upgrading” the mineral to synthetic rutile is by carbothermal reduction of the mineral while immersed in a molten salt at high temperature, followed by magnetic separation of the reduced iron. A variety of factors are also investigated, such as particle size of the mineral, the type of mineral, and the molten salt used. The solubility of iron(III) oxide in different molten salts is also experimentally determined.

Jan 1, 2016

By Frederico Muylaert Margem, Jarbas Bravo Neto, Sergio Neves Monteiro

"The mechanical behavior and the fracture characteristics of composites with DGEBA/TETA epoxy matrix reinforced with up to 40% in volume of continuous and thinner ramie fibers were evaluated by tensile tests. Specimens with selected thin fibers aligned along the tensile axis were room temperature tested to rupture. The fracture surface was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. The results showed significant increase in both the ultimate tensile strength and the elastic modulus. The fracture analysis indicated the possible mechanism for the fiber/matrix interaction, which could be responsible for the composite performance.IntroductionThe fiber reinforced polymer composite emerged in the middle of last century as a versatile engineering material for applications requiring mechanical resistance in association with lightness. Its most commonly used example is ""fiberglass'', i.e., a thermoset polymer matrix composite reinforced with glass fiber. Indeed, ""fiberglass"" has a specific strength of the order of 500 MPa.cm3/g, which is the double of the strongest steels like the maraging. This motivated, at earlier times, ""fiberglass"" to replace many conventional materials including wood and natural fiber composites. Today, ""fiberglass"" has a wide range of uses from aerospace systems and appliances to sport and leisure components. However, its fabrication as well as those of any synthetic fiber such as carbon and aramid composites, requires a relatively large amount of energy. Presently, a growing concern exists regarding the consequences to the environmental by gases like C02 associated with both the energy consumption and the processing of synthetic fibers and their composites. These gases are well known responsible for global warming [1]."

Jan 1, 2011

By Alistair Burrows

Situated in the oblast of East Kazakhstan, the Ust-Kamenogorsk Metallurgical Complex has spent the past twenty years renovating and remodelling itself as a modern polymetallic sulphide smelting facility, and a regional centre of excellence for custom smelting. Along the way there have been changes to the company structure, introduction of new technologies, investments in expanded capacity, environmental improvements, and addition of new metal products and by-products to the site’s repertoire. These changes have been gradual and incremental, but taken together they represent a significant contribution to placing Kazakhstan’s sulphide smelting industry on a strong foundation for enduring success in the international custom smelting market. In achieving these changes, a workforce that was historically isolated from much of the world now has recognised expertise, internationally competitive skills, and confidence to embrace the future. Further improvements in energy efficiency, environmental compliance and polymetallic processing capabilities are challenges that UKMC stands ready to face.

By Ting Luo, Hongmin Zhu, Kai Huang, Shuanglong Du, Tao Gui, Yifan Xiu

"Poplar cotton, a cellulosic material, was found to adsorb metals ions effectively. In the present study, the biosorption characteristics of Pb(II) onto poplar cotton, were evaluated as a function of pH, contact time, biomass dosage, initial concentration and temperature. Within the pH range investigated (1.0-6.0), the optimal pH value suitable for the uptake of Pb(II) was determined. The maximum adsorption capacity obtained from the Langmuir model is around 0.52mol kg for the poplar cotton sorbent. Equilibration is achieved in 60min for the studied concentrations. Results suggest that the poplar cotton can be directly used as an effective and low-cost biosorbent for removal of Pb(II) from aqueous solution.IntroductionHigh value utilization of various biowastes produced in agricultural, forestry, fishing industries, etc. have attracted great interest from many researchers [1], Biomass, due to its easy availability, great abundance, low cost, easy processing, eco-friendliness and biodegradability, has exhibited exciting potential for being used as raw materials for the preparation of many new hi-tech functional products [2]. For example, using biowastes to synthesize sorbents for application in the removal of toxic substances such as dyes [3], heavy metals from the waste water [4] or in the recovery of valuable metals [5] from the ore tailings and secondary metals resources has made great progress in last decade. In present study, poplar cotton, a kind of white light fluff of poplar trees, like that of dandelion, usually flying in the air each spring was tested as a biosorbent for the remove lead ions from the water. It may also provide some good ideas for new sorbent design. Lead, as one of the typical poisonous heavy metals, for its typical toxicity and extensive pollution, was chosen to test the adsorption behavior of poplar cotton in aqueous solutions."

Jan 1, 2012

By Miao Tian

Large quantities of copper complex resources are produced globally and urgent to be cleanly processed. This article presents a thermodynamic analysis of mixed smelting process including low-grade polymetallic copper sulfide concentrates, high copper content sulfide concentrates, metallurgical by-products (copper removal slag from lead metallurgy), and copper powder from electronic waste. A top blown smelting reactor to simulate mixed smelting process is developed using a metallurgical process simulator, METSIM. Reactor parameters, heat loss and phase distributions are estimated from actual plant data. The proper proportion between complicated primary and secondary copper resources is determined by analyzing the influence of the feed rates of various resources, oxygen, silica flux and revert on the smelting performance. Autogenous smelting process is built by optimized matching materials of copper complex resources, in terms of the reactor temperature, copper content in matte and slag, and the percentage of magnetite in slag.

By Hong Liang-shi

Olivine lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) is considered as one of the most promising materials for lithium-ion secondary batteries because of its high theoretical capacity, low cost, good safety, benign environment and good cycle performance. In this paper, carbon-free and/or carbon-coated olivine lithium iron phosphate composite ultrafine powders were successfully synthesized from aqueous precursor solutions of (NH4)2Fe(SO4)2?6H2O, H3PO4 and LiOH?H2O by co-precipitation method. The obtained LiFePO4 or LiFePO4/C powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Their electrochemical performance was investigated in terms of cycling behavior. As confirmed by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope, the material obtained by co-precipitation within the temperature range of 60ºC to 100ºC and then followed by moderate heat treatment are a single-phase olivine LiFePO4with the particle size of about 300nm. An improved carbon-coated olivine LiFePO4/C material was prepared by adding conductive carbon materials, such as glucose, activated carbon and acetylene black, into the precursor. The carbon dispersed in the materials increases the electronic conductivity of LiFePO4/C composite, and consequently, leads to high rechargeable capacity of the material. The carbon-coated material with carbon amount of 7.64%wt obtained from glucose has the first discharge capacity of 150.3mAh/g at the rate of 0.1C and 129.3mAh/g at the rate of 1.0C, respectively. After cycled for 50 times, the capacity retention rate is 95.13% at the rate of 1.0C in the voltage range of 2.5 to 4.3 V vs. Li/Li+.

Jan 1, 2006

By Kenneth McGowan

"The aluminum industry is the 5th largest consumer of energy and the largest consumer of energy on a per-weight basis. Process heating accounts for 25% of the energy consumed to manufacture aluminum. Consequently, the generation of this energy results in the production of a significant amount of CO2 (over 3.75 million metric tons in 2003)1. As a result, the Aluminum Industry Technology Roadmap of 2003 listed the development of improved refractory materials as a goal to reduce energy use and decrease greenhouse gas creation. The result of a R&D effort addressing this desire is the development of patented microporous refractory materials for metal contact applications in all furnace areas including the belly band. It has been demonstrated that this material can reduce energy consumption up to 38% in furnaces and significantly reduce heat loss in launder and trough systems. Furthermore the material developed is non-wetting and remains un-penetrated by metal throughout its lifetime. The material does not contribute to the formation of corundum. As a result, the energy efficiency of an older lining remains intact compared to standard refractory materials which may have an initial high insulating value (such as lightweights and board) or standard dense refractory (even with penetration inhibitors) both of which show a rapid increase in thermal conductivity as the refractory is penetrated with aluminum and formed corundumIntroductionThe aluminum industry is the second largest producer of metal in the United States, behind the iron and steel industry. It is the 5th largest consumer of energy and the largest consumer of energy on a per-weight basis. Process heating is required to melt, hold, purify, alloy, and heat treat the metal and accounts for 25% of the energy consumed to manufacture aluminum. As such, process heating is the second largest energy consuming operation. Smelting, which utilizes an electrolytic reduction process is the largest energy consuming operation1.Most process heating is accomplished through the use of fossil fuels, either directly or indirectly. The choice of fuel is dependent on a plant’s location and fossil fuel availability. Table I shows the processes impacted by refractories and the calculated BTU’s generated by usage of the respective fuels as well as the Metric Tons (MT) of metal passed through each process in 20001."

Jan 1, 2009

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 David T. Bunney

In .December of 1987, International Mill Service, Inc. signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Tetronics Research & Development Co. Limited of Faringdon, Oxfordshire., England to commercialize plasma technology which had been demonstrated in an EAF dust processing application. The intent of the process is to reduce and volatize the zinc, lead and cadmium oxides inherent in EAF dust and collect these elements as metals in an ISP (Imperial Smelting Process) zinc splash condenser, and to render the resultant slag an inert, non-hazardous material. With these objectives in mind, IMS started commissioning facilities in 1989 at Florida Steel in Jackson, Tennessee and Nucor-Yamato Steel in Armorel, Arkansas. This paper will address the commercial development and progress of the technology at these two installations. Process Description In the EAF steelmaking process typically the off gas stream is cleaned by some form of baghouse. The particulate collected is known as Electric Arc Furnace dust and has been designated by the U.S. EPA as hazardous waste number K061, once it leaves the collection system. This designation was given to the material due to the high toxic concentrations of lead and cadmium (nickel and chromium for stainless EAF dusts) inherent in the dust. IMS' method of operation is to locate the facilities on the client mill's property adjacent to the baghouse. The dust is transported directly to IMS via a closed conveyance system. This method enables the technology to be an additional processing step in the steelmaking process. Once the dust has been transported to the IMS facility, it is fed, metered and mixed mechanically in the feed conveyance system with a carbon reductant (typically coke breeze). The carbon reductant is approximately 10% of the dust feed rate. This mixture passes through the feed system and enters the furnace

Jan 1, 1992

By J. Phillip Mackey

The Peter Hayes Symposium on Pyrometallurgy, held as part of Extraction 2018, is an acknowledgement of his contributions to the basic science and principles underpinning modern pyrometallurgical processing. After completing his PhD at Strathclyde University, Scotland, in 1974, Peter took up a teaching position at The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia in 1976. Peter Hayes’ research at the University since then has been focussed on: • The mechanisms and kinetics of heterogeneous solid/solid, gas/solid and liquid/ solid reactions, and • Experimental measurement of phase equilibria in complex high temperature metallurgical systems. This paper provides a brief biography of Dr. Peter Hayes and gives a full listing of Peter Hayes’ publications.

By Tabbetha A. Dobbins

We report studies concerning the time frame for catalytic reactions between NaAlH4 (sodium alanate) and TiCl3 during high energy milling. Spectral features in x-ray absorption spectra were analyzed for samples milled for various times (0 minutes, 1 minute, 5 minutes, 25 minutes, and 125 minutes). A structural transition from Ti3+ to Ti0 is observed within the first 5 minutes of milling. The Ti0 structure persists for samples milled for times longer than 5 minutes?even after those samples underwent a subsequent single hydrogen desorption/absorption cycle. Samples milled for less than 5 minutes retain Ti3+. For samples milled for 1 minute, the Ti-K edge position shifts from Ti3+ to Ti0 after a single desorption/absorption cycle. However, the first coordination sphere around the Ti0 absorber occurs at longer distances for 1 minute milled sample. These results hint at the formation of Ti0 pure metallic clusters upon desorption/adsorption cycling of 1 minute milled sample. Previously reported x-ray absorption spectroscopy studies have demonstrated the structural transition from Ti3+ (in TiCl3) to Ti0(determined to be TiAl3 found at the surface of the alanate powder). Aluminum deficiency on the NaAlH4 lattice is responsible for controlling hydrogen absorption capacity. These time-resolved spectroscopy studies suggest the possibility for controlling aluminum deficiency, while still maintaining titanium activation of the alanate powder, by manipulating the coordination environment of the titanium dopant during the first five minutes of high energy milling. Specifically, a possible approach to mitigating aluminum deficiency during doping would be to introduce an alternative species to which the to Ti3+ catalyst would form a metallic bond after the TiCl3 has attached at the surface of the sodium alanate powder and before the Ti3+ forms the TiAl3 intermetallic species.

Jan 1, 2006

By Chengxian Lui

Detailed mineralogical and metallurgical investigations were carried out on a phosphorous-bearing manganese carbonate ore from the Huayuan manganese mine, Hunan, China. Microprobe analyses indicate that the Manganese occurs mainly in calc-rhodochrosite and in rhodochrosite. The cOll'pOsitional range of these manganese carbonate minerals is 50 -80 % MnOJ3, 0 -35 % CaOJ3, 5-35 % MgC03 and 0 -15 F~. The manganese carbonate minerals are very fine grained, IOOSt are between 4.6 and 9.4 1m in diameter. The small grains are clustered into aggregates that form bands 0.5 to 10 rnn wide. The phosphorous-bearing mineral in the ore is fluorapatite and is in grains that are generally smaller than 6 1m in diameter. Metallurgical tests show that it is possible to concentrate the aggregates of manganese carbonate minerals by high intensity magnetic separation, and to reduce the phosphorous content by rpasting the concentrate to convert the manganese carl::x>nates to insoluble hausmannite, and then leaching the roast product with HCI to dissolve the fluorapatite.

Jan 1, 1989

By C. Peter Hayes

The world continues to change and with it the supply of minerals and metals, the location of centres of production of primary metal and the increasing levels of metals and materials recycling. New technologies are being developed to meet the ongoing search by industry for lower costs, cleaner production and new markets. To keep abreast with these changes, and to utilise fully, the potential benefits of these technical advances, the industry will need a professional workforce having different knowledge, skills and professional attributes than in the previous millennium. What are these skills and attributes? How to best attract and develop the metallurgists of the future, and provide for the ongoing educational and research needs of the industry?

By H. Walqui

Southern Peru Copper Corporation (SPCC) are currently modernizing the Ilo copper smelter. A single ISASMELT furnace will start smelting 1,200,000 tonnes per year of concentrate during the second half of 2006. The existing Peirce Smith converters are being upgraded for converting the matte to blister copper and a new acid plant and oxygen plant are being installed. Two new anode furnaces and a twin anode casting wheel have been installed in 2005 and commissioned in January 2006. The modernization project will ensure the smelter satisfies new environmental regulations due to come into force in January 2007. This paper summarises the background to the modernization project, describes the main design features of the new copper smelter and summarises progress on the smelter construction as of early 2006. This paper describes the genesis of the Ilo Smelter Modernization Project and describes in details the scope and current status of the project.

Jan 1, 2006

By J. Brent Hiskey

The global copper industry faces a technological challenge to develop processing schemes for more complex and impure ores and concentrates. Group 15 elements (As, Sb, and Bi) represent impurities that are troublesome both in terms of environmental impact and metallurgical processing. The so-call "dirty" copper concentrates are either unacceptable for smelting and refining or incur high penalties. The behavior of the Group 15 elements is of critical importance in maintaining product quality and process performance. During copper electrorefining, these impurities are released to the electrolyte by electrochemical dissolution of the anode. Depending mainly on temperature, concentration, and oxidation state these elements can spontaneously coprecipitate from the electrolyte. Some of these precipitates are referred to as floating slimes and their formation can have extremely detrimental effects on cathode purity. In this paper, the mechanism of floating slimes formation will be discussed and the fundamental thermochemistry will be reviewed and analyzed in relation to solubility properties.

Jan 1, 2012

By Junmo Ahn

This study investigated leaching kinetics by alternative lixiviants for copper leaching from chalcopyrite (CuFeS2), the most abundant copper resource in the world. As a refractory sulfide mineral, chalcopyrite shows low copper extraction due to passivation on chalcopyrite surface. Also, decrease of copper grade with high portion chalcopyrite requires the alternative leaching procedure to increase copper recovery. Therefore, alternative lixiviants such as sulfurous acid and methanesulfonic acid (MSA) were tested for both concentrate and low grade ore to enhance copper extraction. Also, an oxidant, hydrogen peroxide, was compared to ferric to find out the improvement of leaching kinetic. In concentrate leaching tests, 30 g/L MSA showed the highest copper extraction (47%), compared to other lixiviants at 75 °C. Periodical H2O2 addition enhanced copper extraction, and above 90% of copper extraction was observed within 96 h by periodical addition of 0.6% H2O2 at 75 °C. The activation energy of chalcopyrite leaching by MSA and H2O2 achieved 40 kJ/mol, which is chemical reaction control. The results of low grade ore leaching tests indicates that no significant difference among lixiviants (H2SO4, H2SO3 and MSA) with ferric was observed, all of which achieved around 37% within 24 h at room temperature. However, significant increase of copper extraction (>80%) was observed at both 20 g/L MSA and 10 g/L H2SO4 conditions by the addition of 10% H2O2.

By Mary Cunningham

The EPA and DOE have collaborated on a series of studies to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment technologies at stabilizing bulk elemental mercury and wastes containing high concentrations (i.e., with greater than 260 mglkg total mercury) and multiple forms of mercury. The data from these treatment demonstrations are intended to help EPA to determine if regulatory revisions to allow a stabilization alternative for high-mercury subcategory wastes are warranted. In addition to mercury-contaminated wastes, the disposal of bulk elemental mercury is of concern because of the excess quantity of mercury in the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) stockpile, as well as other potential sources of excess elemental mercury. The studies evaluated the effectiveness of several technologies at: I) stabilization of mercury in a "hard-to-treat" matrix; and 2) conversion of elemental mercury into a stable waste form for disposal. A surrogate waste was designed for the study on high-mercury wastes, which included an organic form of mercury, elemental mercury, and several mercury salts in an inorganic matrix. The surrogate waste and the bulk elemental mercury were treated by the vendors, and the treated waste forms evaluated for mercury Icachability, using both the TCLP and an automated, constant-pH leaching protocol. Constant pH leaching was conducted at pH 2,4,6,8 10 and 12 for 14 days at each pH. The leaching data demonstrate that the stability of the mercury in three treated waste forms varies widely across the pH range tested. Clearly, the stability of mercury in these treated waste forms will be highly dependant on the disposal conditions. The combination of site-specific disposal conditions and appropriate treatment technology must be considered as decisions are made about disposal of high-mercury wastes.

Jan 1, 2003

By G. C. Yao

Branch and needle-shaped intermctallic compounds of iron, silicon and aluminum normally exist in the molten aluminum. If a suitable amount of manganese metal is added into molten aluminum, the shape of the intermallie compound particlcs may become lumpish and spherical. According to the difference in electric and magnetic properties of these impurity particles and molten aluminum, these impurity intermctallie compound particles can be separated by applying an alternating magnetic field. In this experiment the alternating magnetic field was formed by a "C" type loop with AC (50Hz) current. The inner vacuum of the fireclay refractory separator is 25>< 15" 130mm3 with a lateral baffle inside. The separator was put into the interspace of the "C" type loop. It was found that the longer the separation time, the larger the amount transferred of impurities. The amount of transferred impurities increases with the increase of separation time and intensity of magnetic field. The addition of manganese metal enhanees signifieantly the efficiency of impurity separation.

Jan 1, 2003

By Hongbo Zhao, Jun Wang, Wenqing Qin, Guanzhou Qiu, Xueduan Liu

Bio-hydrometallurgy technology was applied for the extraction of copper from the raw ores of Chambishi Mine in Zambia. A copper extraction of 93.29% was obtained for small scale column bioleaching within 63 days, while a copper extraction of 89.05% was achieved for large scale column bioleaching in 90 days, thus confirming the amenability of the raw ores for effective extraction via bioleaching. The bacteria were cultured in a 6-stage enlarge cultivation. The bacterial cultures with cell concentration of more than 1×108 cells/mL were added into a spray pond of sulfuric acid to be applied in the dump leaching, and a copper extraction of about 50% was achieved within 2 months. The production report revealed that the copper extraction increased by approximate 20%, and the acid consumption was reduced to around 35% as a consequence of adding the bacteria. The industrial demonstration of the bio-hydrometallurgy technique is now well established in Zambia, and further applications of bio-hydrometallurgy in both Zambia and Congo are currently in progress.

Jan 1, 2015