Modelling and conceptual design of a waste smelting process

A pyrometallurgical process has been modelled and conceptually designed for the thermal treatment of heavy metal containing waste streams like MSW incinerator fly ash and sewage sludge. The modelling is carried out using the computer program EQUIMET as developed by Billiton Research BV. This program calculates thermodynamic equilibrium, making use of a slag model to account for the non-ideality of the slag phase. By comparison with a pilot test on smelting of MSW incinerator fly ash it is shown that thermodynamic modelling reasonably describes the waste smelting process and especially the fate of the minor elements. The thermodynamic model has been incorporated into a flow sheeting program, which calculates energy and mass balances for the proposed process configuration. Calculations show that it is possible to produce a clean slag phase, meeting recycling requirements. The heavy metal containing residues can be processed for further recycling

Modelling and conceptual design of a waste smelting process

A pyrometallurgical process has been modelled and conceptually designed for the thermal treatment of heavy metal containing waste streams like MSW incinerator fly ash and sewage sludge. The modelling is carried out using the computer program EQUIMET as developed by Billiton Research BV. This program calculates thermodynamic equilibrium, making use of a slag model to account for the non-ideality of the slag phase. By comparison with a pilot test on smelting of MSW incinerator fly ash it is shown that thermodynamic modelling reasonably describes the waste smelting process and especially the fate of the minor elements. The thermodynamic model has been incorporated into a flow sheeting program, which calculates energy and mass balances for the proposed process configuration. Calculations show that it is possible to produce a clean slag phase, meeting recycling requirements. The heavy metal containing residues can be processed for further recycling