Preliminary List of Abstracts (Alphabetical Order)

2ND INTL. SYMP. ON SUSTAINABLE NON-FERROUS SMELTING IN 21ST CENTURY

A novel pathway for the high efficiency manufacturing of metal from metal oxide by means of electrolysis in ionic liquids at low temperature was investigated. The main emphasis was to eliminate the use of carbon and high temperature application in the reduction of metal oxides to metals. The focus of this research was to produce metals, such as Zn, and Pb that are normally produced by the application of very high temperatures. Experimental results for electrochemical extraction of Zn from ZnO and Pb from PbO using eutectic mixtures of Urea ((NH2)2CO) and Choline chloride (HOC2H4N(CH3)3+Cl-) or (ChCl) in a molar ratio 2:1, varying voltage and temperatures were carried out. FTIR studies of ionic liquids with and without metal oxide additions were conducted. FTIR and ICPS were used in the characterization of the metal oxide dissolved ionic liquid. Electrochemical experiments were conducted using potentiostat/galvanostat with three electrode cell systems. Cyclic voltammetry was used in the determination of reduction potentials for the deposition of metals. Chronoamperometric experiments were carried out in the potential range of -0.6V to -1.9V for lead and -1.4V to -1.9V for zinc. The current efficiency for the deposition of Pb and Zn obtained was about 86% and 96%, respectively. The deposits were analyzed using XRD and SEM-EDS. The results from XRD confirm the deposition of pure metal on the cathode. The morphology of the deposited product is rod-like structure with an average diameter of 1 µm and up to 200 µm in length in the case of lead and particles of about 20 µm in size in the case of zinc. This technology will advance the metal oxide reduction process by increasing the process efficiency and also eliminate the production of CO2, which makes this an environmentally benign technology for metals production.

In this thesis, a pyrometallurgical recycling technique to recover valuable metals from a dumped residue, which was generated in the primary lead-, zinc- production is investigated. Within this process, the residue is charged on a lead bath and the containing valuables like zinc, lead and silver, if present, as well as other oxides, are reduced. The products of the process are a lead alloy, dust with a high content of zinc oxide and an inert-slag with a low concentration of disturbing heavy metals. In the lead alloy, the valuable metals like silver and lead are collected and can be recovered during the lead refining steps. Due to the process temperature, the reduced zinc is in gas phase and leaves the process setup trough the off-gas system. The zinc-vapor is post-combusted with air and the generated dust is collected in the bag house filter. The paper includes the characterization of the zinc-lead blast furnace slag from the metallurgical point of view. Additionally, thermodynamic calculations are mentioned, which cope with the phase equilibrium under reducing conditions and ternary systems with the focus on slag formation and melting conditions during the recycling process. Furthermore, the setup and the results of laboratory scale trials, with the aim to determine best process conditions, are described. According to this, a process evaluation for technical scale trials, in a Top-Blown-Rotary-Converter (TBRC) and in a DC-Submerged-Arc-Furnace (SAF) is studied.

The aim of this research is to get better understanding of the electrolytic refining process in order to yield the anode slime.Three types of secondary copper anodes are electro refined in an electrolytic system, where the electrolyte is an acid of copper sulphate solution. As a result of the electro-refining process, the gain of the anode slime is achieved, which, as fine material, falls in the bottom of the electrolytic cells. The experimental research analysis of anode slime composition are done by two methods: X-ray fluorescent method (XRF), which is realized with the help of Thermoscientic Nitro XL 3t device and as second method is used X--rays difractometry (XRD), which is realized with the help of D8 Advance Bruker AXS equipment. The anode slime introduces a multi-component secondary product of electrolytic refining process of metals composed of insoluble components of Cu, Au, Ag, Pt, Pd, Ir, etc. The composition of the anode slimes varies according to the composition of the anodes. The qualitative preparation of raw material - anode slime of secondary Cu and its rational utilization will result the optimization of process of gaining metals for which it is dedicated. This study has shown that the anode slime containing gold, silver and platinum group of metals and these metals can be recovered.

With the improvement of technology and scale in Chinese aluminium industry, the annual emission of red mud was substantially increased these years. The red mud emission amount was 50 million ton in 2011 and the utilization technology of red mud attracts academic and industrial fields' extensive attention. Under this condition, "Calcification-Carbonat-ion Method" was put forward to deal with middle-low grade bauxite and red mud by Northeastern University. The main purpose of this method is to change the balance phase of red mud into 2CaO.SiO2 and CaCO3 with hydrometallurgical process. Through treatment by "Calcification-Carbonation Method", A/S of the new structure red mud lowed below 0.2 and the Na content lowed below 0.2%, which could be used in cement industry directly. This paper mainly introduced the technological idea and principle of new method, process comparison and typical experiment results are given as well.

Developing the lead industry and getting it modernized, China, for the last decade, has implemented both the most advanced lead smelting processes used in a world and domestic technologies in the field being developed rapidly in recent years. The recent example of foreign lead smelting technology implementation is the commercialization of KIVCET process. The two largest metallurgical Chinese companies acquired licenses for this Kazakhstani process. These are Jiangxi Copper Corporation (JCC), the leading copper producing company, which acquired the license in 2008, and Zhuzhou Smelter Group Co., the leading lead and zinc producing company, which acquired the license in 2009. The process was purchased for smelting of complex lead-zinc and polymetallic feed. 40 months later, two brand-new KIVCET units, having designed a capacity of 100 000 and 120 000 tons respectively, were commissioned at JCC (March 2012) and Zhuzhou Smelter (January 2013) plants.With the consent of the companies, the paper presents information regarding the peculiarities of brand new KIVCET units in China, which differ them from the KIVCET units running in Italy and Canada. Compositions of the designed feed and the procedures for preparation and commissioning of KIVCET units as well as first experience of their running are also described in the paper. Stable running of the units and achievement of the most designed parameters make commissioning of KIVCET process in China successful.

An increasing global demand for new products and emerging technologies that use rare earth elements (REEs)have drastically diminished their supply, while global consumption of rare earth elements (REEs)has registered a steady and significant increase. Rare earth elements (REEs) are found in most everyday applications because of their unique chemical and physical properties. So, convergence technology is necessary for the recovery of critical rare elements from power plants waste for simultaneous CO2 utilization. Carbonation is one of the cost effective and ecofriendly process for the recovery of rare earth metals by using limestone and limestone mixture from power plants waste or sludge. This accelerated carbonation is a more suitable process for CO2 capture and can utilize this CO2 for manufacturing different kinds of new calcium carbonates used industrial residues (e.g., power plants ash). This paper mainly focused on the case studies of sustainable critical rare earth elements in various fields and managing the supply chain risks of rare earth elements (REEs).

The possibility of using Electric Furnace gases as combustible inside a Rotary Kiln is described through proper control and optimization. According to the theoretical investigation, in proper control, the Electric Furnace gases can be used as combustible inside of a Rotary Kiln. The benefits of this procedure are the drastic reduction of the production cost per ton of nickel, the reduction of mazut consumption in Rotary Kiln and the improvement of the quality of refined Fe-Ni by having less sulphur. Furthermore, the use of electric furnace gases inside the Rotary Kiln will decrease environment pollution since it releases less quantity of gases that pass through Electric Furnace scrubber. This paper describes the control and optimization of the use of electric furnace gases in Rotary Kiln.

The research of solid-liquid pressure leaching reactor is always a focus which is paid close attention to by academy and industrial. Under this trend a self-stirring reactor was proposed originally by the Northeastern University. High speed video t and PIV technology were adopted in this paper to research on agitation characteristics of new kind of self-stirring reactor. The results demonstrated: The agitation speed decreased first and then increased with the rise of liquid height, the stirring speed was the lowest which was 84 rpm at the datum; The whole flow field presented turbulence state; The stirring reactor successfully converted pressure energy to mechanical energy, the stirring promoted the mixed turbulence of fluid in the reactor.

In order to meet the high national EHS standard for copper smelting production, SKSTM technology was developed in the 1990s. SKSTM copper smelting technology has been commissioned in 2008 at Fangyuan Copper Smelter. In the past 5 year operation, numerous technique innovations have been implemented in the furnace design. The plant has been successfully demonstrated with its unique excellent performances on all aspects from processing capacity, product quality, energy reduction, cost reduction and emission reduction. The purpose of this report is to update all these improvement with proven tracks.To demonstrate the superior performances for the modified SKSTM technology, the following aspects are discussed and compared with other similar advanced technologies: •Plant design and operating conditions; •Mass and heat balances, metal recovery; •Consumables, oxygen gun and refractory lining life; •Energy consumption and operating costs; •Sulfur capture and emission reduction etc.It is concluded that the modified SKSTM process is a clean SO2-zero emission process. The process is characteristic of other features such as no extra fuel addition, low capital with a small foot-print design, low OPEX, high throughput, easy operation, long refractory lining life and high productivity (95%+ on line time annually). It offers an alternative cost-effective technology for copper smelting industry.

In order to meet the high national EHS standard for lead smelting production, SKSTM technology was developed in the 1990s. Modified SKSTMlead smelting technology has been commissioned in 2010 at YGJ Lead Smelter.In the past 3 year operation, numerous technique innovations have been implemented in the furnace design. The plant has been successfully demonstrated with its unique excellent performances on all aspects from processing capacity, product quality, energy reduction, cost reduction and emission reduction. The purpose of this report is to update all these improvement with proven tracks.To demonstrate the superior performances for the modified SKSTM lead technology, the following aspects are discussed and compared with other similar advanced technologies: •Plant design and operating conditions; •Mass and heat balances, metal (Pb, Ag) recovery; •Consumables, oxygen gun and refractory lining life; •Energy consumption and operating costs; •Sulfur capture and emission reduction etc.It is concluded that the modified SKSTM process is a clean (zero SO2 emission) process. The process is characteristic of other features such as no extra fuel addition, low capital with a small foot-print design, low OPEX, high throughput, easy operation, long refractory lining life and high productivity (95%+ on line time annually). It offers an alternative cost-effective technology for lead smelting industry.

Binary alloys of copper and indium sputtering target are applied to the solar cells manufacturing, and play a role of light-absorbing layer. In the solar cell, manufacturing process will generate lots of spent sputtering targets, which are needed to recycle. This research performs the separation technology and the recovery of indium from spent targets. The experiment of separation and enrichment of the indium is conducted by using the solvent extraction and ion-exchange resin under the hydrochloride acid system. The liquid-liquid extraction of copper and indium from acid medium by D2EHPA in kerosene is studied. Indium is successfully separated from copper by using solvent extraction. The maximum extraction efficiency of Indium is 99.9%. The organic phase that contains a rich indium can be stripped by hydrochloride acid. The ion exchange results to a best adsorption of 92% of the indium from copper. The ion exchange is found to be consistent with the Langmuir isothermal model through the experimental results of isothermal adsorption, which adsorption is about 55 mg/g. Through the kinetic adsorption experiments, the adsorption will reach a carrying capacity after 10 hours. We also show that the hydrochloride acid is an effective stripping solution through the desorbing experiment. Finally, the zone refining of indium will recover 99.995% of indium metal as the raw material of indium target.

The cathode process, which takes place at the indifferent substrate in molten LiCl-KCl-PbCl2 (2,10 mol. %) and LiCl-KCl-PbCl2-PbO (0,54 - 1,78 mol. %) in the temperature range of 723 - 823 K, was studied using voltammetry technique.The experiments were carried in the three-electrode electrochemical cell. The molybdenum core served as the working electrode and liquid lead was used as the counter and reference electrodes. The cathode voltammograms demonstrate only one current peak indicating lead recovery in the LiCl-KCl-PbCl2 melt. The PbO addition to the chloride melt leads to appearance of one more current peak. The proposed mechanism of cathode process in the LiCl-KCl-PbCl2-PbO melt suggests that the consistent reduction of Pb2+ and complex oxide lead-containing ions proceeds at different potentials. The analysis of i-V1/2 showed that the cathode process is controlled by diffusion.

Molten salts are liquids which exhibit outstanding physical-chemical properties mainly due to their ionic character. They have attracted a considerable theoretical as well as industrial interest for their unique chemistry and as non-aqueous and aprotic media, respectively. From a theoretical point of view, the uniqueness of this chemistry is symbolized by the development of the oxo-acidity/basicity concept, the theory of F-centers. Recently, the increase of computational capabilities allows to investigate the local structure of molten salts using quantum theories to derive thermodynamic quantities (e.g. Energy of solvation).Depending on their composition, molten salts' melting temperatures range between 100°C for nitrate-based molten salts and up to 1000°C for fluoride-based molten salts. The combination of suitable cations and anions gives the possibility to select mixtures with a specific melting temperature range to enhance certain specific physical-chemical properties. However, no systematic and clear trends between molten salts' composition and their physical-chemical properties have been observed.Currently, molten salts are used in several industrial processes and/or indirectly involved in sectors such energy, transport, chemical industry. The main applications where molten salts are used are: - power generation: Molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFC), thermal batteries- electrolytic processes for metal production: Aluminum, sodium- energy transport/storage: Solar system, phase change material (PCMs)- reprocessing: Nuclear spent fuels (pyrochemistry), electronic scraps- coating production: Electrodeposition of reactive metalsThis presentation provides an overview about the theoretical developments around the molten salt chemistry, illustrated by some industrial applications of well-developed industrial processes. As outlook, the comparison between the main properties of molten salts and ionic liquids will be discussed. From the experience gained along the past decays, relevant information may be analyzed to understand their similitudes/differences for further developments.

Slags are by-products during the production of metals. Slags from alloy steelmaking often contain metal values. The slags pose a serious threat to nature when used in landfills. With suitable process development, the slags form very valuable secondary sources of these metals. A number of economically viable process routes have been developed during recent years in order to utilize the metal values in slags. An understanding of the physical chemistry of slags is necessary in order to enable this. Some of the unique measurements carried out in this direction will be presented in the planned lecture. The new process solutions for the recovery of metals from slags consist of, among others, oxidation of slags containing Fe and Mn to produce nanoferrites and recovery of vanadium from vanadium sources including slags and low-grade ores by volatilization in oxidizing environments. A new patented salt-slag process, Salt Extraction Process, uses AlCl3 as flux in extracting the metal values into the slag phase. With simultaneous electrolysis, the metals are deposited at the cathode. The present approach has given rise to a number of applications in adjoining fields, such as extraction of Pb from CRT glass, extraction of rare-earths from scrap or low-grade sources as well as copper production from sulphide ores. The synergetic effects of combining molten salts with slags are highlighted in the present talk.

Gipronickel Institute is developing a brand new process of Buruktal Deposit nickel oxide ore treatment to ferronickel based on Vaniukov Furnace smelting technology. The new process based on Two-zone Vaniukov Furnace smelting has been proposed for treating saprolite ore of one of the largest in Russia Buruktal Deposit. The process flow-sheet is as follows: Ore crushing and drying-Briquetting-Roasting of briquettes in Tubular Rotary kiln-Smelting of hot briquettes in Two-zone Vaniukov Furnace to Ferronickel and dump slag - Refining of ferronickel Ladle-type Furnace. The paper presents the new process flow-sheet laboratory and pilot testing results. Technological peculiarities of the processes taking place in the furnace smelting and reduction areas are considered.

This study presents a physical and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) study of mixing and mass transfer in a 0.5 scale slice water model of a Peirce-Smith (PS) converter used in the Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) converting operation. Mixing and solid-liquid mass transfer characteristics behaviour of PS-converter was investigated in the transition from current subsonic converter operation to envisaged sonic converter operation. Sonic converter operation is envisaged to alleviate inefficiencies associated with current bubbling regime operation from both process and energy perspective. The results of the work is meant to provide understanding of the relatively small industrial PS-converter behaviour at high pressure operation achieving sonic blowing conditions at tuyere tip for further development of sonic injection technology. To account for the multiphase and turbulence characteristics of the operation, the 3-D simulations were conducted using the volume of fluid (VOF) and realizable k-e turbulence models respectively. A commercial CFD numerical code FLUENT was used to implement the models. In both physical and CFD simulations, water and air were used to simulate matte and injected air/ oxygen-enriched air into PS-converters. A tracer-dispersion technique method was used to measure the mixing time while the calculation of localised mass transfer coefficient (k) and calculated dimensionless turbulence characteristic (Tc) of spaciously placed sintered benzoic acid compacts was used to characterise the mass transfer phenomena. It was concluded that best mixing conditions occurs during the transition from subsonic to sonic injection operation while mass transfer results points to stratified flow in the PS-converter.

The conventional technology for aluminum production uses consumable carbon anodes evolving CO and CO2. The high energy and material consumption, as well as the significant greenhouse emission encouraged the industry and researchers to pursue innovative technologies for aluminum production. Recently, a new low-temperature process based on electrolysis of low-melted potassium and potassium-sodium cryolites became a subject of interest: Decreasing the operating temperature can decrease energy costs and reduce material corrosion, electrolyte evaporation, aluminum solubility in electrolyte, and alkali metal content in the aluminum product. Besides, the low-temperature electrolytic bath allows implementation of oxygen-evolving inert anodes and wetted cathodes that result in significant energy and environment benefits for aluminum production. The basic physical-chemical properties (liquidus temperature, electrical conductivity, density, and alumina solubility) of the mixed potassium-sodium cryolites (KF-NaF-AlF3) with cryolite ratio (CR) 1.3-1.5 containing LiF and CaF2 additions were measured and described by overall regression equations. The KF-AlF3 and KF-NaF (12-15 wt%)-AlF3 melts with CR=1.3-1.5 have the liquidus temperature below 800°C, and the alumina solubility over 4.5 wt% in the 700-800°C temperature range. The LiF additions in amount of not more than 3 wt% are optional to improve the electrical conductivity. The presence of CaF2 in electrolyte is not desirable. Based on obtained data the prospective electrolyte compositions can be chosen for low-temperature aluminum electrolysis.

Processes of lead raw materials smelting are considered to be a quite significant source for production of such noble metals as gold and silver. Thereat, these metals may constitute a considerable part in total cost of lead industry products. That can be explained by the following reasons. Firstly, gold and silver grades in lead concentrates can be very high. Secondly, metallic lead is the best noble metals collector, which is widely used for processing noble metals concentrates as a part of lead charge. But the higher content of noble metals in lead charge is the most important issue of limitation of these metals losses with waste slags gets. The purpose of the research was searching for possibilities and conditions to minimize noble metals losses in lead smelting processes. That required studies of the patterns and determination of the key technological factors influencing behavior of gold and silver in lead and polymetallic raw materials smelting processes. The following activities were carried out in particular: - analysis of silver losses forms in lead smelting slags; - studies of kinetics of carbothermic reduction of oxidized melts having different basicity at smelting of lead charge having high silver grade; - regression analysis of the technological factors predetermining gold and silver distribution in lead smelting products (based on KIVCET process data).The studies carried out allowed finding out the physical-and-chemical peculiarities of noble metals generation in slag, and discovering of the main technological factors influencing the value of the losses, and determination of the conditions necessary for reduction of the losses value. The results indicate that KIVCET process has good conditions for minimization of noble metals losses at smelting of the charge having increased gold and silver grade. The research results can be of high interest for lead enterprises processing lead-silver feed or involving considerable amount of gold-bearing materials into processing.

Lead production in comparison with zinc and copper production seems to be quite conservative. For the last 50-60 years, Zinc industry has principally switched from pyrometallurgical technologies to hydrometallurgical processes, so did copper industry, but lead production is still based on raw materials smelting processes. New technologies being developed in lead hydrometallurgy sphere are not being implemented in production process for various reasons. Another sign of lead production conservatism is slow introduction of the advanced lead smelting processes which were developed back in the eighties-nineties of the last century. Not more than two or three smelters for each of the advanced processes (Caldo, QSL, Ausmelt/Isasmelt, KIVCET) had been operated on an industrial scale unit recently. Therefore, their part in total lead production volume had been relatively small. The situation has considerably changed since modernization of Chinese metallurgical industry began. For the last 17 years, they have tested all advanced modern processes. Moreover, for the last 12 years they have been widely implementing domestic technologies based on foreign processes.The paper presents the author's view on current state of the world lead industry and the role of China in the development of lead smelting technologies. There were reviewed peculiarities of the modern lead smelting processes predetermining their raw base and fields of application. Some ideas regarding perspectives of the technological development of lead production in connection with the trends of raw base development were also presented in the paper. Considering the trends and perspectives of the technological development of lead production the following conclusions were made: - introduction of lead hydrometallurgy is not coming soon, but it is going to be an alternative to the lead smelting processes in perspective; - the development of lead smelting technologies in perspective is to be predetermined by development and modernization of Chinese lead industry; - expansion of use of the advanced lead smelting processes will be predetermined by the trends of raw base development and environmental aspects.

A new technology for integrated processing of gold-bearing antimony ores has been developed in order to solve certain problems in the industry of gold-mining. The technology based on vacuum thermal processes allows not only extraction of gold but production of associated materials - antimony sulfide (Sb2S3) and metallic antimony (Sb) as well.In this connection there were fulfilled some theoretical and application-oriented works, in particular, (computer simulated) estimation methods for determining values of thermodynamic functions were developed and yet unknown values of thermodynamic functions of some compounds (FeSb, FeSb2, AlSb, etc.) were established; Thermodynamic analysis of the (Sb-S); (Sb-S-Fe); (Sb-S-Al) systems was conducted. The estimation results are presented graphically (temperature dependence of the content of components). Kinetics of the process of antimony sulfide extraction from the ores was studied for different fractions. Optimal conditions for obtaining Sb2S3 were determined.Commercially pure (~95 mass %) antimony was prepared via iron reduction of Sb under vacuum with subsequent sublimation and condensation. Elimination of arsenic and sulfur from the metallic antimony was realized by vacuum heat treatment (Рa‰…10-5 ÐœPа). The resulting product was a high-purity metallic Sb (~ 99.2 mas. %).An alternative method was used for the extraction of precious metals (gold, silver): The method provides electrochemical procession of ore with using chloride electrolyte comprising selective organic gold complexing agent - thiourea [CS(NH2)2]. An appropriate device was designed and recommendations were issued.

The titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V has been extensively used as biomedical implant in the recent decades. Although it has an excellent reputation for corrosion resistance and biocompatibility, considerable controversy has been raised over the long-term performance. Further studies have shown that the release of both Al and V ions from the alloy might cause long-term health problems, such as: Osteomalacia, neuropathy and Alzheimer diseases. Vanadium is associated with potential cytotoxic effects and adverse tissue reactions, and Aluminium produces potential neurological disorders. The alloy with aluminium and niobium occurs to be more suitable for implant applications. Ti-6Al-7Nb alloy possesses similar or better corrosion resistance and mechanical properties than those of Ti-6Al-4V alloy. Moreover, this alloy has no toxicity. In soft tissue, aluminium and niobium, similar as aluminium and iron show a reaction of "sequestration", namely the formation of connective tissue membrane around the implant.It was found that titania with specific structure of anastase and rutile possesses a high bioactive characteristic; This result implies the possibility of preparation of more active titanium by oxidation in air at high temperatures. The aim of the paper is to study the effect of heat treatment on the mechanical properties and surface characteristics of Ti-6Al-7Nb. Data about mechanical behaviour is presented. The mechanical behaviour was determined using optical metallography, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Tensile strength, microhardness and ultramicrohardness. It resulted that the tested oxide films presented passivation tendency and a very good stability. The pronounced porous oxide layer obtained by heat treatment may be expected to facilitate the incorporation of mineral ions from biological fluids and to improve the bioactive bonding with the living bone.

The advantages of high temperature mass spectrometric method to study thermodynamic properties and vaporization processes of ternary borosilicate melts are here illustrated. The understanding of high temperature behavior of borosilicate melts has the great importance for the development of the modern materials science as well as for various technologies, such as for the incorporation of nuclear wastes, for obtaining metals from slags in metallurgy and for preparation the special glasses. The information on the vaporization processes and thermodynamic properties of ternary borosilicate melts containing Bi2O3, MgO, CaO, SrO, BaO, PbO, ZnO, and CdO, obtained by high temperature mass spectrometric method in the temperature range 1100-2000 K was considered. The regularities of the vaporization of corresponding binary and ternary borosilicate melts, according to the position of oxide modifier in the Periodic table of atoms were also illustrated and discussed from the point of view of the acid-base concept. Thermodynamic functions of these systems, such as activities and chemical potentials of components as well as the Gibbs energies showed various signs of the deviations from the ideal behavior. For the melts under consideration thermodynamic properties' modeling, the generalized lattice theory of associated solutions was used. Using these approaches, the different levels of deviation from the ideality in the borosilicate melts studied were clarified. The present study was done according to the financial support of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research according to Project N 13-03-00718.

Copper anode slime is abundant in valuable metals like Cu, Pb, Sb, Sn, Se and precious metals. In this paper, the soluble behavior of metals from copper anode slime was investigated using an alkaline smelting-leaching process. The anode slime was smelted with sodium hydroxide and sodium nitrate followed by leaching with water. Various parameters were studied, including the sodium hydroxide addition, sodium nitrate addition, smelting temperature, smelting time, leaching temperature and time in leaching process. More than 97%Se, 98%As, 86%Sn and 76%Pb were extracted into solution under determined conditions. Simultaneously, less than 1.5%Cu and 3.5%Sb were extracted respectively. The alkaline concentration of the leach solution was about 2.4mol/L. The leaching residue was characterized by physico- chemical techniques, such as XRF and XRD, which indicate that most of Cu, Sb, Ni, Te, Ag and Au are left in leaching residue. This process provides a simple and effective way for valuable metals separation from copper anode slime.

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