THE SEPARATION AND/OR PURIFICATION OF PRECIOUS METALS

摘要

A process for the treatment of a concentrate of by-metals comprises heating the concentrate at between 1100 DEG C and 1500 DEG C, preferably at about 1300 DEG C, in a gaseous stream which comprises oxygen. The heating step is effected for a period of time sufficient to ensure quantitative removal of one or more of lead, arsenic, silver, bismuth and/or tellurium and the oxidation of ruthenium, rhodium and iridium to their oxides.