Environmentally Conscious Manufacturing: Slag and Matte Interactions with Chrome-Free Refractories for Copper Production

9528815施莱辛格这项关于选矿的研究将评估熔融的矿渣、冰铜和铜金属与目前几乎所有一次和二次铜生产炉中使用的“镁铬”材料的潜在替代耐火材料之间的相互作用。废镁铬耐火材料已被贴上危险废物的标签，目前没有哪个金属行业像铜冶炼厂、转炉和火法精炼炉运营商那样依赖它们。已经确定了两个可能的替代系统：来自镁-钙质系统的“镁-白云母”耐火材料，以及来自镁-氧化铝系统的“镁-尖晶石”或“氧化铝-尖晶石”成分。过程矿物学技术将被用来研究从原生矿和废料生产铜金属时使用的熔融相对替代耐火材料的实际侵蚀机制。通过与澳大利亚的提取冶金研究中心建立工作关系，可以最大限度地利用美国大学在工艺矿物学和耐火材料研究方面的优势，以及澳大利亚在熔体化学和高温热力学方面的专业知识。铁、铜和铝是世界各地生产的主要主要金属。含铬耐火材料在铁和铜生产中都大量使用。然而，铬给用过的耐火材料带来了处理问题。这项国际研究工作有可能消除另一个危险的“垃圾填埋”问题。

9528815 Schlesinger This research on mineral processing will assess the interaction of molten slags, mattes, and copper metal with potential replacement refractories for the "mag-chrome" materials currently used in nearly all primary and secondary copper production furnaces. Spent mag-chrome refractories have been labeled as hazardous wastes and no metals industry is currently as dependent on them as the operators of copper smelter, converters, and fire-refining furnaces. Two potential replacement systems have been identified: "mag-doloma" refractories from the magnesia-calcia system, and "mag-spinel" or "alumina-spinel" compositions from the magnesia-alumina system. Process mineralogy techniques will be used to examine the actual mechanisms of attack of replacement refractories by the molten phases employed in the production of copper metal, both from primary ores and scrap. By establishing a working relationship with an Extractive Metallurgy Research Center in Australia, optimal use of the US University's strengths in process mineralogy and refractories research, and the Australian expertise in melt chemistry and high-temperature thermodynamics can be realized. Iron, copper, and aluminum are major primary metals manufactured all over the world. Refractories containing chromium are used heavily in both iron and copper production. However, chromium poses a disposal problem for used refractories. This international research effort has the potential to eliminate one more hazardous "landfill" problem.