Survey of metallurgical recycling processes. Final report
In the year 2000, the US will consume about 3.2 x 10/sup 15/ Btu to produce the seven major nonferrous metals Al, Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni, Mg, and Ti. Of this amount, 82% will be used in the production of Al. It is projected that 0.6 x 10/sup 15/ Btu will be saved by the recycle of secondary metals. Major opportunities for increasing the extent of recycle and thereby increasing the energy savings are discussed. An inherent feature in the energistics of recycle is that physical processes such as magnetic separation, density separations, melting, and in some instances vaporization are far less energy intensive than are chemical processes associated with dissolution and electrowinning. It is in the domain of scrap of complex composition and physical form, difficult to handle by existing technology, that opportunities exist for new chemical recycle technology. Recycle of scrap metal of adequate grade is currently achieved through pyrometallurgical processes which, in many cases, are not very energy intensive as compared with hydrometallurgical processes. Preliminary flowsheets are presented for the recovery of value metals from batteries considered for use in vehicular propulsion and load leveling applications. The battery types examined are lead/acid, nickel/zinc, nickel/iron, zinc/chlorine, lithium-aluminum/iron sulfide, and sodium/sulfur. A flow sheet has been outlined for an integrated hydrometallurgical process to treat low-grade copper scrap. A fully integrated hydrometallurgical process is outlined, and costs and energy consumption are derived, for recovering zinc metal from electric furnace flue dusts. Costs and energy are high and the process does not appear to warrant development at this time. Improvement in the recycle of magnesium is associated primarily with improved recycle in the Al industry where Mg is an important alloy additive. Ni and Ti recycle are associated with improved collection and sorting of stainless steel and specialty alloys.
- Research Organization:
- EIC Corp., Newton, MA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31-109-ENG-38
- OSTI ID:
- 5899240
- Report Number(s):
- ANL/OEPM-79-2
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
42 ENGINEERING
ALUMINIUM
MATERIALS RECOVERY
COPPER
LEAD
MAGNESIUM
METAL INDUSTRY
ENERGY CONSERVATION
NICKEL
SCRAP METALS
RECYCLING
ZINC
ECONOMICS
EXTRACTIVE METALLURGY
SEPARATION PROCESSES
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
ELEMENTS
INDUSTRY
MANAGEMENT
METALLURGY
METALS
PROCESSING
RECOVERY
SOLID WASTES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTES
320305* - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Industrial & Agricultural Processes- Industrial Waste Management
420900 - Engineering- Waste Processing Plants & Equipment- (-1989)