METHOD OF OXIDIZED POLYMETALLIC RAW MATERIALS PROCESSING Russian patent published in 1999 - IPC

FIELD: processing of oxidized polymetallic intermediate products containing zinc, lead, tin, copper, nickel, cobalt, iron, etc. SUBSTANCE: processing of oxidized polymetallic raw materials in DC furnace includes heating of raw materials by passing current with the help of anode and cathode electrodes to form slag-metal melt and supply of reducing agent. In this case, after heating to preset temperature, anode electrodes are lifted to maintain arc between them and melt level. Depth of immersion of cathode electrodes is kept within 0.2-0.9 height of slag layer when measured from its lower level. Gas is supplied through electrodes. Solid carbon is supplied into melt as reducing agent. Supplied through electrodes is gaseous reducing agent in the form of carbon gases of methane and/or propane/butane preliminarily mixed with air, or mixture of coal dust with neutral gas. Produced in gas flow is pulsation with frequency of 3-20 Hz. EFFECT: higher rate of reduction of valuable metals from melt of oxidized polymetallic raw materials, reduced power consumption. 6 cl, 1 dwg, 1 tbl