Abstract
The technical feasibility of recovering copper, nickel, and cobalt from smelting and converting slags using Ausmelt’s top-submerged lancing process has been demonstrated at the pilot-plant scale and in several commercial applications. Process conditions may be tailored to achieve the maximum economic recovery of valuable metals and to yield a product composition that is suitable for downstream processing requirements. Strong economic justification for a slag-cleaning process exists where the contained value of metals recovered exceeds $50 per tonne of slag treated. The top-submerged lance system offers a relatively low-cost solution where this value is predominantly associated with the recovery of cobalt.
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For more information, contact S. Hughes, Ausmelt Limited, P.O. Box 1003, Dandenong, Victoria 3175, Australia; telephone 61-3-9794-6200; fax 61-3-9794-9411; e-mail info@ausmelt.com.au.
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Hughes, S. Applying ausmelt technology to recover Cu, Ni, and Co from slags. JOM 52, 30–33 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-000-0170-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-000-0170-5