Carbothermic reduction of a willemite concentrate for use in the Waelz process.

A willemite concentrate consisting mainly of willemite (55.3%) and dolomite (15.6%) was reduced in a tube furnace with charcoal as reductant. The effects of temperature and varying reductant additions on zinc extraction were studied. A zinc recovery of 86% was achieved with 20% reductant in the char...

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Detalhes bibliográficos
Autores: Coimbra, Vitor Silva, Lima, Geraldo Magela de, Leão, Versiane Albis, Souza, Rodrigo Fernandes Magalhães de, Oliveira, Victor de Andrade Alvarenga
Formato: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2023
País:Brasil
Recursos:Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP)
Repositorio:Repositório Institucional da UFOP
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:repositorio.ufop.br:123456789/19243
Acesso em linha:https://www.repositorio.ufop.br/handle/123456789/19243
http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2411-9717/2516/2023.
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palavra-chave:Waelz process
Willemite
Carbothermic reduction
Zinc smelting
Non-sulphide zinc ore
Descrição
Resumo:A willemite concentrate consisting mainly of willemite (55.3%) and dolomite (15.6%) was reduced in a tube furnace with charcoal as reductant. The effects of temperature and varying reductant additions on zinc extraction were studied. A zinc recovery of 86% was achieved with 20% reductant in the charge at 1100°C. During reduction, the calcium oxide generated through calcination of the dolomite promoted decomposition of the willemite, thus lowering the temperature at which reduction took place. The presence of CaO improved the zinc recovery at all temperatures studied. The best zinc recovery (93%) was obtained in the presence of 5% CaO, 20% charcoal reductant, and at a temperature of 1100°C. The results show that the willemite concentrate studied has great potential to be used as a raw material for the Waelz process.