Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Metals Propose a Special Issue

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser

Metal Extraction/Refining and Product Development

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers

A special issue of Metals (ISSN 2075-4701). This special issue belongs to the section "Extractive Metallurgy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2024 | Viewed by 7253

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Dandan Wu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

State Key Laboratory of Complex Nonferrous Metal Resources Clean Utilization, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
Interests: mineral processing; hydrometallurgy; kinetics; silicon resource recovery; waste recycling

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Metal extraction and smelting technology play an important role in the development of the world's economy. In the future, with the interaction of economic, environmental protection, digital and other factors, new technologies will continue to emerge in the metal extraction and smelting industry, and will tend to develop towards high efficiency, low pollution and intelligence. Metal extraction and smelting technology is one of the important branches in the field of metal metallurgy, aiming at extracting useful metal elements from ores or scrap metals.

This Special Issue aims to collect a range of articles on different aspects of valuable metal extraction, refinement and product development from ores or scrap metals. The objective is to decipher all new methods, processes and knowledge in metal extraction, refinement and product development. The aim of this Special Issue is to create a collection of rigorous research articles, review papers and perspectives on resource recovery technologies for ores or scrap metals. We hope that this open-access Special Issue will provide a great opportunity to demonstrate the work of researchers working in this area all around the world.

Dr. Dandan Wu
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Metals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

concentration of mineral processing
metal extraction
refining
waste recycling
process development
circular economy
recovery
metal production
environmentally friendly

Published Papers (4 papers)

Download All Papers

Research

Jump to: Review

21 pages, 7288 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigation of the Leaching Kinetics of Zinc from Smithsonite in Ammonium Citrate Solution

by Huiqin Chen, Dandan Wu and Ziang Wang

Metals 2024, 14(5), 519; https://doi.org/10.3390/met14050519 - 29 Apr 2024

Viewed by 317

Abstract

In this study, the response surface method is used to develop a model for analyzing and optimizing zinc leaching experiments. An investigation into the leaching kinetics of smithsonite in ammonium citrate solution is also conducted. A model of kinetics is studied in order to represent these effects. The experimental data show that an increase in the solution temperature, concentration, and stirring speed has a positive impact on the leaching rate, while an increase in the particle size has a negative impact on it. The optimal experimental conditions consist of a leaching temperature of 70 °C, ammonium citrate concentration of 5 mol/L, particle size of 38 µm, and rotational speed of 1000 rpm. Under these optimal conditions, the leaching rate of zinc from smithsonite is 83.51%. It is speculated that the kinetic model will change when the temperature is higher than 60 °C. When the temperature is lower than 60 °C, the leaching process is under the control of the shrinking core model of the surface chemical reactions. The calculated activation energy of the leaching reaction is equal to 42 kJ/mol. The model of the leaching process can be described by the following equation:

1 - {(1 - x)}^{1 / 3} = [k_{0} \cdot {(C)}^{0.6181} \cdot {(r_{0})}^{- 0.5868} \cdot {(S S)}^{0.6901} \exp (- 42 / R T)] t

. This demonstrates that an ammonium citrate solution can be used in the leaching process of zinc in smithsonite as an effective and clean leaching agent. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metal Extraction/Refining and Product Development)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

10 pages, 4873 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Combined Sulfidation and Vacuum Distillation for the Directional Removal of Hazardous Mercury from Crude Selenium

by Guozheng Zha

Metals 2023, 13(11), 1795; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13111795 - 24 Oct 2023

Viewed by 1006

Abstract

In this work, an innovative process involving directional sulfurization–vacuum distillation is proposed to effectively remove trace levels of mercury impurities from crude selenium. First, a reaction between sulfur and mercury is used to break the strong chemical Se-Hg bond to achieve the sulfide mineralization of mercury. Second, selenium and mercury are separated by vacuum distillation based on a difference in volatility. Thermodynamic analysis confirms the feasibility of this method. The experimental results show that the sulfidation reaction potential energy of different sulfidizing agents is in the order S > Na₂S > FeS, and the optimum conditions are determined to be the following: a sulfidation temperature of 473 K and time of 30 min, and vacuum distillation experimental parameters of 503 K, 60 min, and 10–20 Pa system pressure. The overall experimental results show that the maximum removal of mercury is 97.49%. The content of mercury in the refined selenium was reduced from 0.32% to 0.0088% in the volatile matter. The results have practical value for the separation of selenium and mercury from hazardous wastes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metal Extraction/Refining and Product Development)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

79 pages, 14366 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Review of Top Submerged Lance (TSL) Processing—Part II: Thermodynamics, Slag Chemistry and Plant Flowsheets

by Avinash Kandalam, Markus A. Reuter, Michael Stelter, Markus Reinmöller, Martin Gräbner, Andreas Richter and Alexandros Charitos

Metals 2023, 13(10), 1742; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13101742 - 13 Oct 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2573

Abstract

In Part II of this series of review papers, the reaction mechanisms, thermodynamics, slag chemistry and process flowsheets are analyzed concerning cases where the TSL bath smelter has found its application. These include the primary and secondary production routes of five non-ferrous metals (tin, copper, lead, nickel, zinc), ironmaking and two waste-processing applications (spent pot lining and municipal solid waste/related ash treatment). Thereby, chemistry and processing aspects of these processes are concisely reviewed here, allowing for clear and in-depth overview of related aspects. In contrast to Part I, the focus lies on a holistic analysis of the metallurgical processes themselves, especially the particularities induced by carrying them out in a TSL reactor rather than on the respective equipment and auxiliaries. The methodology employed per metal/application is presented briefly. Firstly, the feed type and associated statistical information are introduced, along with relevant process goals, e.g., the secondary metallurgy of copper involves the recovery of platinum group metals (PGMs) from waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). Subsequently, associated chemistry is discussed, including respective chemical equations, analysis of the reaction mechanisms and phase diagrams (especially of associated slag systems); these are redrawn using FactSage 8.1 (databases used: FactPS, FToxid, FTmisc, FTsalt and FTOxCN) and validated by comparing them with the literature. Then, based on the above understanding of chemistry and thermodynamics, the flowsheets of several industrial TSL plants are introduced and discussed while providing key figures associated with process conditions and input/output streams. Finally, this article culminates by providing a concise overview of the simulation and digitization efforts on TSL technology. In light of the foregoing discourse, this paper encapsulates basic principles and operational details, specifically those pertaining to TSL bath smelting operations within the non-ferrous industry, thereby offering valuable insights intended to benefit both scholarly researchers and industry professionals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metal Extraction/Refining and Product Development)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

34 pages, 16142 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Review of Top-Submerged Lance (TSL) Processing—Part I: Plant and Reactor Engineering

by Avinash Kandalam, Markus A. Reuter, Michael Stelter, Markus Reinmöller, Martin Gräbner, Andreas Richter and Alexandros Charitos

Metals 2023, 13(10), 1728; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13101728 - 12 Oct 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2989

Abstract

Part I of this series of papers focuses on plant and reactor engineering aspects of the TSL reactor technology. A general flowsheet is presented, while emphasis is given to the definition of different reactor zones in terms of fluid dynamics and occurring reactions. Then, the technical advantages of TSL processing, such as feed flexibility and high conversion rates (due to induced turbulence), low dust generation, and low fugitive emissions, are explained. In addition, the reactor is analyzed part by part, also taking into account patent literature, focusing on furnace design, settling furnaces for molten phase disengagement, feeding systems regarding input material streams such as concentrates and fuels, vessel cooling arrangements, off-gas system, and aspects associated with the refractory lining. Furthermore, specific focus is given to the centerpiece of the TSL reactor, i.e., the reactor lance. Associated developments have focused on establishing a slag coating to hinder lance wear, i.e., the development of cooling mechanisms (e.g., use of fluid-cooled lance and shroud arrangements), the increment of O₂ enrichment within the incoming air stream, and influencing of fluid dynamics (e.g., O₂ conversion at the lance tip, bubble formation, and bath splashing). Finally, comprehensive tables concerning process developments and commissioned TSL plants are provided thus concluding Part I of the review. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metal Extraction/Refining and Product Development)

► Show Figures