Refining of metals with low m.pts., esp. lead, tin or zinc - which are pored into vibratory mixer reactor with reagents which combine with impurities in the molten metal

摘要

The molten impure metal is fed together with at least one reagent (I) into a vibrating mixer-reactor, in which reagent (I) combines with at least one impurity, and esp. with metallic impurities in the molten metal. The mixer pref. contains inert bodies, e.g. steel balls, aiding mixing, esp. in a continuous reactor. The process is pref. used to purify lead by (a) adding sulphur or phosphorus to remove Cu and/or Ni; (b) adding NaOH and/or oxygen to remove Zn, As, Sn, Sb; or (c) adding Sn to remove Ag and/or Au. In the pref. plant, a heated mixer reactor is followed by a settling tank contg. a heating- or cooling- coil. The efficiency of known methods of refining metals is improved by the increased intensity of mixing provided by the invention.