Towards Environmentally Benign Pyrometallurgical Processes

迈向环境友好的火法冶金工艺

• 批准号: 5744-2012
• 负责人: Pickles, Christopher
• 金额: $ 1.46万
• 依托单位: Queen's University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2012-01-01 至 2013-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=509744
• 关键词: Towards; Environmentally; Benign; Pyrometallurgical; Processes

In the past, improvements to the current extraction methods and the development of new metal extraction processes were determined by both technical and economic factors. More recently, environmental factors have become another significant feature in determining the viability of a process. In this regard, for the research program described in this proposal, the major objective is to develop metal extraction processes that have less of an impact on the environment. In mineral and metal extraction processes, some of the major sources of energy remain carbonaceous or hydrocarbon-based. Ultimately, the carbon in these materials is converted into carbon dioxide and this contributes to global warming. To address this issue, a major focus of the work will be to investigate microwave processing techniques. The electrical energy utilized in these microwave processes can be relatively clean and also there are other potential advantages such as reduced gas throughputs and dust production. The field of microwave processing of minerals continues to expand and considerable progress has been made in understanding this complex technology and its application to extractive metallurgy. Currently, pyrometallurgical metal extraction is being somewhat displaced by hydrometallurgical processes, at least in part because hydrometallurgy is more environmentally friendly. The proposed research addresses this issue and could lead to greener pyrometallurgical processes and also builds on over ten years' experience in this new research field in metal extraction. Over the next five years, the research will focus on three potential microwave applications as follows: (1) microwave fragmentation studies, (2) microwave pyrovacuum processing and (3) microwave processing of coal. In addition, to the investigation of the proposed applications in this research program, information will be generated which can help define other potential applications. Furthermore, we will continue to determine the permittivities of the ores, concentrates and minerals of interest and ultimately produce a publishable compilation.

过去，对现有提取方法的改进和新金属提取工艺的开发是由技术和经济因素决定的。最近，环境因素已成为决定过程可行性的另一个重要特征。在这方面，对于本提案中描述的研究计划，主要目标是开发对环境影响较小的金属提取工艺。在矿物和金属提取过程中，一些主要能源仍然是碳质或碳氢化合物。最终，这些材料中的碳转化为二氧化碳，导致全球变暖。为了解决这个问题，工作的一个主要重点是研究微波处理技术。这些微波工艺中使用的电能相对清洁，并且还具有其他潜在优势，例如减少气体吞吐量和粉尘产生。矿物微波加工领域不断扩大，在理解这项复杂技术及其在萃取冶金中的应用方面已经取得了相当大的进展。目前，火法冶金金属提取在一定程度上被湿法冶金工艺所取代，至少部分是因为湿法冶金更加环保。拟议的研究解决了这个问题，可能会带来更环保的火法冶金工艺，并且还建立在金属提取这一新研究领域十多年的经验基础上。未来五年，研究将重点关注以下三个潜在的微波应用：（1）微波破碎研究，（2）微波热真空处理和（3）煤炭微波处理。此外，为了调查本研究计划中提出的应用，将生成有助于定义其他潜在应用的信息。此外，我们将继续确定感兴趣的矿石、精矿和矿物的介电常数，并最终生成可发布的汇编。