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

这项关于矿物加工的研究将评估熔融渣、磨砂和铜金属与潜在的替代“镁铬”材料的耐火材料之间的相互作用，目前几乎所有的初级和次级铜生产炉都使用这种材料。废镁铬耐火材料已被列为危险废物，目前没有任何金属工业像铜冶炼厂、转炉和炼火炉那样依赖于它们。已经确定了两种潜在的替代体系：镁-钙体系中的“镁白云石”耐火材料和镁-氧化铝体系中的“镁-尖晶石”或“氧化铝-尖晶石”成分。过程矿物学技术将用于检查在从原矿和废料中生产铜金属时所采用的熔融相对替代耐火材料的实际侵蚀机制。通过与澳大利亚的萃取冶金研究中心建立工作关系，可以实现最佳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初级金属。含铬的耐火材料在铁和铜的生产中大量使用。然而，铬对使用过的耐火材料造成了处理问题。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.