A process for the carbothermic reduction of zinc oxide to zinc.

摘要

The invention relates to a process for the carbothermic reduction of zinc oxide to zinc comprising the steps task of zinc oxide and coal into a furnace as reactants, reducing the zinc oxide to liquid zinc melt (20) by use of coal as a heating means and as a reactant and tapping of liquid molten zinc (20) from the furnace as the product. The heat input for the endothermic reaction is carried out by the condensation of a blown into the furnace zinc vapor (24), which acts as a heating steam.