Abstract
Pyrometallurgy is an ancient art which has defined significant stages of human development. Today, new opportunities for improvements in the economic, environmental, and workplace costs of metal production continue to provide challenges for the profession and industry. Top-submerged lancing technology for the high-temperature processing of a range of metals and wastes is an example that has been taken up by many companies around the world. The furnace system now marketed under the names of Ausmelt and Isasmelt was, in the early stage of its 33 years of development, known as Sirosmelt. The voyage from the original idea through theoretical, laboratory, pilot plant, and commercial developments to establishment of a worldwide business has been both stimulating and rewarding.
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Additional information
The Extraction and Processing Lecturer Award honors an outstanding scientific leader in the field of nonferrous extractive metallurgy with an invitation to present a comprehensive lecture at the TMS Annual Meeting.
John Floyd is Deputy Chair, Ausmelt Limited, Australia. He earned his B.Sc. and M.Sc. from the University of Melbourne, Ph.D. from London University, and DIC from Imperial College. Dr. Floyd has authored or co-authored more than 70 published technical articles and has invented or co-invented 15 patented process or equipment inventions in the extractive metallurgy and high-temperature processing plant areas.
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Floyd, J.M. Converting an idea into a worldwide business commercializing smelting technology. Metall Mater Trans B 36, 557–575 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11663-005-0047-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11663-005-0047-7