Innovations in Zinc and Lead Pyrometallurgy

摘要

In the "early years," zinc was universally produced pyrometallurgically by retorting after roasting of its ores and concentrates. In the early 1950s Cerro de Pasco Corporation installed the ill-fated Sterling thermal electric arc furnace process in La Oroya, Peru, employing the fuming of zinc metal and recovery in splash condensers. Today hydrometallurgical processing is mostly used but the Imperial Smelting Process continues to be used for smelting mixed zinc/lead concentrates in Canada and England. The fuming of zinc from residues and zinc silicate and zinc oxide ores is still practiced throughout the world employing the Waelz kiln process. The production of zinc dust is mainly carried out by retorting. In the case of lead, pyrometallurgical methods are universally used today for production; Important changes made in this technology over the years and finishes with the latest in direct lead smelting including the development and installation of the NFC SKS Process in China with their bottom blown oxygen furnace.