Recovery of zinc, cooper, and lead--tin mixtures from brass smelter flue dusts

Technical Report · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1972

OSTI ID:7253329

Powell, H E; Fukubayashi, H; Higley, L W; Smith, L L

The smelting of brass and bronze generates a dust composed primarily of zinc oxide, with lesser amounts of other metal oxides, such as copper, lead, and tin. The small quantity of this waste generated by individual smelters and the relatively low unit value of the contained metals, suggests the desirability of reclaiming the metals onsite or at some nearby point. The Bureau of Mines has developed a process that fits these requirements. The technique consists of (1) dissolving zinc and copper from the dust with sulfuric acid, (2) recovery of copper by cementation, (3) recovery of zinc as zinc sulfate crystals, and (4) recovery of lead and tin as a salable residue. Alternatively, zinc may be recovered by electrodeposition. Free acid is recycled and no major pollution problems are generated by the process.

• Research Organization: Bureau of Mines, Rolla, MO (USA). Rolla Metallurgy Research Center
• OSTI ID: 7253329
• Report Number(s): BM-RI-7637
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320305* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Industrial Waste Management
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400105 -- Separation Procedures
ALLOYS
BRASS
BRONZE
COPPER
COPPER ALLOYS
COPPER BASE ALLOYS
DUSTS
ELEMENTS
FLUE GAS
GASEOUS WASTES
LEAD
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS RECOVERY
METALS
PROCESSING
RECOVERY
RECYCLING
SMELTING
TIN
TIN ALLOYS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTES
ZINC
ZINC ALLOYS