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By A. V. Tarasov

Based on the data available in the literature and the practical experience of new metallurgical plants, a method has been proposed and relevant studies conducted for metallurgical processing of zinc sulfide concentrates. Process conditions and parameters have been identified, which ensure high levels of recovery of zinc into solution. This is achieved by leaching concentrates under the normal pressure at a temperature of >90°C in the presence of ferric iron ions. Sulfide sulfur is converted to elemental sulfur in this process. To produce elemental sulfur it is necessary to maintain oxidizing conditions in the system, characterized by a positive Eh value. In order to eliminate the interfering effect of elemental sulfur formed in the process, it is possible to add surfactants into the concentrate pulp. The proposed technology has certain advantages as compared with the high-temperature pressure leaching and is considered as a basic technology to be applied to increase zinc production at one of the Russian zinc plants.

Jan 1, 2006

By R. W. Lee

The first prototype plant using the Imperial Smelting Process commenced operation in 1950. It is timely therefore to review the developments that have occurred with the process over the past half-century. A major advantage claimed initially for the process was its ability simultaneously to recover zinc and lead from bulk concentrates. This has remained a fundamental advantage, but it has been extended by the increasing treatment of secondary materials containing zinc and lead. This has been facilitated by the development of hot briquetting and tuyere injection. These techniques and their impact on the technology of the operation will be described. The other major advantage claimed for the process was its potential to achieve new levels of productivity in the pyrometallurgical smelting of zinc. This has been realised with operating furnaces producing up to 400 t/d of zinc. The technical developments that have enabled this scale of operation will be reviewed.

Jan 1, 2000

By A. Mejias, M. A. Garcia, G. Diaz

During 1997 and 1998 two successful zinc feasibility studies, Skorpion and Sanyati, were carried out by Tecnicas Reunidas based on the modified ZINCEX® technology. The technical viability of each project was proved during more than 600 h of continuous running in a pilot plant. The Skorpion zinc project would recover 150,000 t SHG Zn/y from an oxidized zinc ore of a Namibian mine. The economical study showed that the plant would have the lowest production costs in the world. The Sanyati zinc project would treat a bleed from an existing copper refinery in Zimbabwe to recover 5,000 t SHG Zn/y. In the first case the electrowinning cellhouse was supplied by Union Miniere and in the second by Tecnicas Reunidas. This article highlights the pilot plant results and the advantages of the proposed process over conventional zinc production practices.

Jan 1, 2000

By Yu Yamashita

There have been increasing in melting recycled scraps in copper smelting processes, and thus growing interests in the chlorine behavior. In this study, chloride dissolution in FeO-Fe2O3-SiO2slag (SiO2sat.) at 1523 K has been measured with varying in PCl2 from 1.13x10-8 to 1.30x10-7atm. and the oxygen partial pressures encountered in typical copper smelting furnace, i.e. PO2=10-8 to 10-10 atm. Discussion is made on the chloride capacity of FeO-Fe2O3-SiO2 slag in terms of its characteristics and the dissolved chlorine species. It has been shown that the mostreasonable dissolution reaction and chloride capacity can be expressed by the following reactions, where chlorine dissolves in the form of Cl-; here, aO2-, oxygen ion activity, is shown a function of oxygen partial pressure in the atmosphere. [ ]

Jan 1, 2006

By J. A. Voigt

In an effort to determine the optimum conditions for preparing high purity, fine particle size high temperature superconducting oxide powder, we have investigated how calcination conditions influence the conversion of a chemically prepared hydroxycarbonate precursor powder to YBa2Cu307. We find that the precursor can be converted to phase pure YBa2Cu307 in either oxygen or synthetic air (20% 02. 80% N2) at 850°C. This temperature is substantially lower than the temperature (>900°C) normally used for the calcination of mixed-oxide powders. The lower calcination temperature prevents particle sintering and maintains the desired fine particle size. Powder processed in synthetic air shows a low degree of crystallinity indicating it may be more sinterable than the highly crystalline powders produced when an oxygen atmosphere is used. Intimate contact between powder particle surfaces and a flowing gas atmosphere promotes the reaction between the BaCO3 component of the precursor powder and the Y and Cu constituents.

Jan 1, 1989

By Takeshi Yoshikawa

For the development of low-cost silicon refining process for solar cells, the present authors have been studying the low temperature refining technique, ?solidification refining of Si with Si-Al melts at 1173 ? 1273K?. In the present work, we have investigated the B removal in that refining, utilizing the segregation effect and also the effect of Ti addition to the melt. Segregation ratio of B between solid Si and Si-Al melt was measured by the temperature gradient zone melting technique and it indicated the B removal fraction would be as much as 90%. Titanium addition to the melt was found to produce the TiB2 precipitation with soluble B in that melt and bring the effective B removal of refined Si to its content of 1ppma.

Jan 1, 2006

By K. Watling

Vibrational spectra of surface and solution compounds formed during cyclic voltammetry of a gold electrode in a deoxygenated 0.01 mol dm-3 NaCN solution have been examined using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy. The presence of cyanide at the electrode surface was indicated by Raman bands characteristic of the carbon-nitrogen stretch, CN.. Chemisorption of cyanide on the gold surface was evidenced by the presence of vibrational modes due to gold-carbon stretching, AuC, and gold-carbon-nitrogen bending, AuCN. Prior to the disappearance of the surface cyanide stretch band, a limiting value of the CN was obtained, the same as the value reported for adsorbed cyanide. Effects upon the voltammetry and vibrational modes of surface species due to additions of silver and lead to the gold-cyanide system have been observed.

Jan 1, 2003

By Vânia L. L. Andrade

Igarapé Bahia Mine is located in Carajás area, northern Brazil. Currently Companhia Vale do Rio Doce operates there a CIP / heap leaching plant treating an oxide gold ore containing about 4 g Au /t and 0,2% Cu, which produces 11 t of gold per year. Recent geological survey has identified a signifcant copper-gold reserve underneath the oxide gold ore. The processing aspects of this copper-gold sulphide ore are described in this paper. It includes ore characterization studies, grinding and flotation tests, orebody variability assessment, flowsheet selection and preliminary economical evaluation Emphasis is given to studies aimed at depressing fluorine bearing minerals to achieve a clean and marketable flotation concentrate.

Jan 1, 1999

By E. A. Román

An ion exchange pilot plant, provided by Mesco Inc., was tested for antimony control in the electrolyte at three Chilean tankhouses for copper electrorefining: Chuquicamata, Potrerillos and Enami -Ventanas. The pilot plant, with a nominal extraction capacity of 1.2 kg Sb/day, worked connected to both experimental and commercial circuits, performing a total of 310 loading and elution cycles. An innovation in this process is the use of a chelating organic elution reagent, which presents some advantages over the traditional 6N HCI. This new eluent is amenable to continuous regeneration and recycling with high recovery efficiency. Antimony removal starting at initial, concentrations of 0.5 to 0.6 g/l of Sb down to steady concentrations of 0.1 to 0.0.6 g/l Sb, resulted in the production of High Grade copper cathodes with Sb contents below 0.1 ppm. Anodic slimes showed Sb contents below 1%.

Jan 1, 1999

By Hong Yong Sohn

A thermodynamic and experimental investigation has been performed to develop a new process for converting sulfur dioxide to elemental sulfur by a cyclic process. The most promising new process is a cyclic reaction scheme involving calcium sulfide and calcium sulfate. In this process, the reaction between sulfur dioxide and calcium sulfide produces elemental sulfur vapor and solid calcium sulfate. The latter is reduced by a suitable reductant such as hydrogen to regenerate calcium sulfide. 'Experimental results showed that up to 60 % of calcium sulfide powder was converted to calcium sulfate in 10 min at 1153 K under a sulfur dioxide partial pressure of 25.8 kPa. More than 95 % of nickel-catalyzed calcium sulfate powder was converted to calcium sulfide in 20 min at 1123 K under a hydrogen partial pressure of 86.1 kPa, water vapor being the only gaseous product. Sulfur dioxide-containing streams from certain new sulfide smelting plants contain much higher partial pressures of SO2. The rate of the first reaction is expected to be accordingly higher than in the test conditions reported in this paper.

Jan 1, 2002

By Cynthia K. Belt

Improved energy efficiency has grown in importance within industry as energy costs have escalated. The analysis of trends and changes to a process is critical in making the best business decision in energy management. Frequently, energy use per day (Kilowatt-Hour or British Thermal Units) is used to track energy efficiency. Sometimes, the somewhat more complex method of energy per processed weight (Kilowatt-Hour per Metric Ton or BTU per Pound) is used to make this evaluation. Yet both methods ignore the effects due to throughput and weather. In this paper, different thermal processes and systems will be evaluated using statistical methods to highlight alternative methods to evaluate energy efficiency. Examples and potential problems will be discussed for both a single process and a collection of processes within a plant or corporation.

Jan 1, 2008

By A. L. Davies

The MTDATA computer software package consists of a rigorous implementation of an algorithm for calculating chemical phase equilibria by the technique of Gibbs free energy minimization and a database of the thermochemical properties of common materials, such as slags, mattes, metals, gases and aqueous solutions. We have used MTDATA to contribute to our understanding of the chemical reactions occurring in several specific unit operations of the Kennecott Utah Copper Garfield Smelter. The following two examples illustrate the range of environments to which the method is applicable. Calculation of the liquidus phase relations of the FSF fayalite and FCF calcium ferrite slags helped in the early diagnosis of several operating problems. Calculation of the deportment of fluorine between the FSF offgas and the FSG scrubber liquor helped in the identification of operating conditions under which significant hydrogen fluoride concentrations could be introduced to the contact section of the acid plant. Without the painstaking assessment of solution phase properties undertaken over many years, these calculations would not be possible.

Jan 1, 1999

By Douglas Robinson

This paper describes technical work done to develop a Spouted Bed Electrode Cell into a commercially viable Electrowinning Cell; (a previous paper has been presented at the ECS meeting in Paris in May of this year, with a more general overview of the cell, [1]). The studies have included hydrodynamic tests to understand the criteria for the circulating flow of metallic beads in the cell, particularly in the region at the entrance to the draft tube, and electrochemical tests to find a suitable diaphragm for extended time electrolysis. Various patent pending features were developed including a double nozzle to allow for automatic stopping and restarting of the bed, an arrowhead shaped draft tube to control the flow of beads into the entrance to the draft tube, a roof-top shaped device to control the flow of beads out of the top of the draft tube, an overflow weir to allow the continuous recovery of beads from the cell, and a family of diaphragm fabrics for extended operation. Prior to the identification of the diaphragm material, short circuits would develop within a few hours. A pilot scale cell was operated for three days, with continuous operator attention, and then for ten days with operator attention only on day shift. The cell is currently advancing to the next stage of development which will involve continuous testing in a commercial copper electrowinning facility.

Jan 1, 2003

By Alex Moyano

At present, the Codelco Norte smelter processes in the Teniente Converter and the Flash smelting Furnace 1,420,000 t/y of its Chuquicamata concentrate with an arsenic content of up to 1.5%. In a near future Codelco-Chile is considering different processing options for a new projected concentrates from the Alejandro Hales mine (former Mansa Mina mine with an arsenic content of up to 6%). The main option is the possibility to process 3,000 t/d of mixing concentrates from the Alejandro Hales and the Chuquicamata mines, in the Teniente Converter. The main feature of this smelting unit will be high volatilization of arsenic when processing high arsenic-bearing concentrates. The CN smelter staff carried out a technical feasibility study to evaluate the processing of high arsenic-bearing concentrates directly in the Teniente Converter, thus the low arsenic-bearing concentrates can be processed in the FSF. Accordingly, laboratory scale tests were carried out at the Tohoku University facilities. The lab-scale results allowed an industrial scale test at the Codelco Norte smelter to smelt 2,300 tpd of high arsenic-bearing concentrates in the TC and evaluate the metallurgical impact in the smelting, converting and refining areas of the smelter. The main industrial-scale result confirmed the stabilization of the arsenic content at 0.5% in the 70% Cu produced white metal at the test condition.

Jan 1, 2006

By Gjergj Dodbiba, Toyohisa Fujita, Takahiro Kikuchi, I-Chen Wu

"In order to separate molybdenum (Mo) from the high-level radioactive liquid waste (HLLW), Pb-Fe based adsorbents were synthesized. The adsorbents were precipitated by adding sodium hydroxide in mixture of 1 mol/L lead nitrate and 1 mol/L ferric nitrate aqueous solutions. Each precipitate was then filtered, dried and ground to obtain a fine powder, which has been used as an adsorbent. Two main parameters were considered when synthesizing the adsorbents, i.e. the pH value at precipitation of adsorbent precursor and the calcination temperature of Pb-Fe based adsorbent. Moreover, the structures of the synthesized adsorbents were investigated by means of an X-ray diffractometer.The experimental results indicated that the calcination temperature of the Pb-Fe based adsorbent has a great influence on adsorption capacity of the adsorbent for Mo. It was found that when the Pb-Fe based adsorbent was calcinated at 500 oC, the sorbed concentration of Mo was the highest.1. IntroductionThe high-level radioactive liquid waste (HLLW), arising from the reprocessing of nuclear fuel are generally immobilized in an alkali borosilicate glass matrix. Broadly speaking, alkali borosilicate glasses are the matrix of choice for the immobilization of the HLLW, since they permit vitrification of waste stream of variable composition, [1]. Within this frame, the incorporation of molybdenum (Mo) is of particular interest in the vitrification of HLLW. Molybdenum is know to have a low solubility in borosilicate glass compositions and its presence in excess results in the phase separation of a complex yellow molten salt during vitrification, [1]. The formation of so-called “yellow phase” material during the vitrification process is undesirable since it leads to the accelerated corrosion of the inconel crucible liners. Furthermore, the “yellow phase”, which is reported to contain also other fission products, is soluble in aqueous solution providing a potential route for the leaching of radionuclides from the vitrified waste, should it come into contact with water, [1]."

Jan 1, 2008

By Behrouz Abedian, Livia M. Racz

"We address dynamic interactions between high-energy, reactive surfaces of polymer-matrix composites and solid surfaces. A common characteristic of these interfaces is that bonding occurs readily upon contact. In many industrial and biomedical applications, it is desirable to suppress this bonding phenomenon. This interfacial effect is discussed in light of the development of our new method of handling polymer-matrix composites in dental applications. This method involves vibration of the solid-polymer interface at different frequencies. For each material, there is a critical frequency at which the sum of the viscoelastic and inertial energies of the fluid at the surface exceeds the energy available for bonding. When the polymer is vibrated at or beyond this frequency, it does not adhere to solid surfaces. An important aspect of the developed process is that it can be used to characterize surface and interfacial properties of polymers under dynamic conditions, whereas existing techniques are restricted to the study of bulk dynamic properties.IntroductionThe purpose of this paper is to report on the development of a new method for manipulating polymer-matrix composite materials used in dental applications, and the potential of this process for use in materials characterization. The materials under discussion have polymer matrices of a combination of bisphenol A-glycidyl methacrylate (BIS-GMA) and triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA), and contain filler particles of silica and/or zirconia glasses. These materials are called direct aesthetic restorative materials, and are used for filling of cavities, repairing chipped teeth, and for other restorations in which appearance is of importance. They have the appearance of natural tooth material, and are therefore in great demand for use in the anterior portion of the mouth(l,2)."

Jan 1, 1998

By Linping Yu

A simplified ED process was developed for organic acids recovery from cyclohexanone waste in this paper. In this regard, the one-stage ED was investigated directly without pretreatment, such as ion-exchange or nanofiltration to removal of foulants. The current efficiency and the energy consumption in the ED process for the recovery of carboxylic acids from cyclohexanone waste is theoretically analyzed and experimentally tested. The concentration of recovered carboxylic acid is related to many parameters and still needs more work to be determined.

Jan 1, 2009

By Ronald L. Bruening

IBC Advanced Technologies, Inc. (IBC) has developed and commercialized SuperLig® materials based on Molecular Recognition Technology (MRT), which have proven to be very effective for the removal of bismuth from hydrometallurgical sulfuric acid process streams. The most common application is its removal from copper refinery electrolytes, where bismuth control is extremely critical. IBC has also developed an MRT system for extraction, recovery and refining of palladium from a copper refinery by-product stream originating from the treatment of copper tankhouse slimes. A high purity palladium salt is produced which meets market specifications. Results are reviewed and discussed.

Jan 1, 2003

By José C. Escobedo B.

A kinetic study of nitrogen dissolution in a. electromagnetically stirred Co-Cr-Mo alloy bath was made. The experiments were carried out at 1693, 1723 and 1743K of temperature, with a nitrogen pressure of 0.67 atm. The mass transfer coefficients were obtained, finding that their values increase as temperature grows. The true kinetic constants were calculated. It was found that at 1693K of temperature, the kinetics of the nitrogen dissolution process is controlled by a mixed mechanism involving both transport processes and chemical reaction, while at 1723 and 1743K of temperature, the kinetics is controlled only by transport processes mechanisms.

Jan 1, 1995

By G. Cifuentes

When the applied current is interrupted in a copper electrowinning plant, and then is back in operation, the lead anodes tend to corrode. In order to decrease the corrosion, the damage protective ("back up") anodic currents are applied during the period of interruption. The current work aims to establish the effect of the concentrations of sulphuric acid, copper and cobalt on the anode corrosion, to quantify the effect of various anodic protection levels on the anode corrosion and to propose a method to select the appropriate protective current density value.

Jan 1, 1999