METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING ZINC ORE CONCENTRATES

摘要

A method and apparatus for treating zinc concentrates in order to recover zinc. The method comprises an oxidizing and smelting stage (10) and, subsequent to the smelting stage, a fuming stage (20) in which the zinc-oxide containing slag formed in the smelting stage is so reduced as to remove the metallic zinc with the exhaust gases (28). Part of the reduced slag is discharged during the fuming stage, another part (32) is recirculated to the smelting stage. In accordance with a preferable method, the slag is reduced in two successive fuming stages (20, 40). In an apparatus according to the invention, the slag circulation between the fuming and smelting stages is facilitated by overflows arranged in the partition walls (19) between the various stages.