Complex Processing of Industrial Products and Lead-Copper Concentrates

This article describes the modern technologies of processing of industrial products and copper-lead waste products, and their physical and chemical properties as well as laboratory tests for processing slurries and zinc slags. Experiments have shown that the temperature of the melt in the reduction of lead-containing slag should be within 1100–1200 °C. The key criteria for separating melting products to different phases are the difference in density, viscosity and surface tension of the melted slag. The separation of the molten slag to the phases and the reduction of the settling time of the melt in the furnace will be promoted by the increasing the density and surface tension of the lead and matte-molten slag, and reduction in viscosity of the latter. The processing of lead-copper-zinc containing sulfide raw material was carried by the reduction smelting method and the purging of melt with a natural gas at a rectangular electric furnace. Dust collection system was connected to the furnace through the duct work. The feedstock loading was carried out through the furnace crown. The purging of melt with natural gas was performed after the melting of the charge using the immersed gas supply tube. The gaseous products were derived from the melting furnace through the flue. The gas supply tube was fitted with a gear system to adjust the depth of the tube immersion. As results of experiments were obtained sharply separable intermediates with a high degree of concentration: lead into lead bullion to 92–94%; copper into matte to 90–91%; zinc to the slag and sublimates to 94–96%. Thus the material costs for processing of copper matte and zinc slag will be reduced and the yield of sublimates consisting primarily of vapor and metallic zinc sulfide will be decreased