FRACTIONATION OF METALS FROM MINERAL SLUDGE PRODUCED FROM A METAL RECYCLING PLANT

摘要

Research work presented in this article was performed on mineral sludge's sampled from a recycling plant primarily designed for catalyst and metallic oxide recycling. In order to achieve recycling of large amount of used catalysts, the recycling plant designed a process allowing the recovery of metals which is based on smart combinations of pyrometallurgy and hydromelallurgy processes. Even if recycling process is done successfully there is one problem that the recycling plant may encounter. Rainfalls are causing run-off of metal laden particles from the recycling plant site and storage areas. Run-off water which contains metals is collected with a network to the collection reservoir and then treated by the wastewater treatment plant prior to be discharged into the nearby river. Together with run-off water particles, dusts are transported and form mineral sludge containing different concentration of inorganic contaminants. Since some of the metals (Mo, W, Cr, Ni, Co and Zn) present in the mineral sludge are especially valuable to the recycling plant (economically and ecologically), recovery of those metals was of primary importance in this research.