PYROMETALLURGICAL PROCESS FOR TREATING METAL-CONTAINING MATERIALS

摘要

A process for forming sodium tungstate using a pyrometallurgical operation is provided. A tungsten containing concentrate (12) together with silica (14) and sodium silicate (16) are introduced into a slagging furnace (18). A higher density tungsten containing phase (20) settles to the bottom of the furnace crucible due to gravity and a less dense slag phase (22) segregates to the upper portion of the furnace crucible. The higher density tungsten phase (20) is introduced into a sparging furnace (24). Gas (26) from the slagging furnace (18) can be subjected to particulate control (28). The recovered particulate matter (30) can be recycled to theslagging furnace (18) and the treated gas (32) can be vented to the atmosphere. A carbon containing gas (34), such as methane, is introduced into the sparging furnace (24). The sparging step results in a crude tungsten carbide product (52) which is subjected to a water leaching step (54). The liquid portion (58) is fed to acrystallizer (60) and the crystals (64) are comminuted (66) in water (68) and subjected to acid leaching (70) with a suitable acid (72). High purity tungsten carbide (78) is then recovered.