Pyrometallurgy Sample Clauses

Pyrometallurgy. Pyrometallurgy is a branch of extractive metallurgy which involves the practice of removing valuable metals from an ore and refining the extracted raw metals into a purer form. Pyrometallurgy involves high-temperature processes where chemical reactions take place to extract or concentrate metals. It is, therefore, the science and technology concerned with the use of high temperatures to extract and purify metals. It consists of the thermal treatment of minerals and metallurgical ores and concentrates on bringing about physical and chemical transformations in the materials to enable recovery of valuable metals which often requires a liquid or near-liquid state. The nature of the material determines whether a pyrometallurgical process step is required. Process temperature can range from 900 to 2000°C. The major types of operations are roasting, smelting, and refining. Pyrometallurgical processes are often complicated, high-risk and generally energy-intensive as the operating temperatures are frequently above 1500°C. Containment of liquid slags and metals at these elevated temperatures requires specialised know-how and equipment, as well as access to energy, often electrical energy. The complex nature of pyrometallurgy processes means that demonstration at large pilot scale is frequently required and Mintek’s pyrometallurgical pilot facilities are unique in the world. No other entity globally has both the scale and variety of facilities hosted by Mintek. Scale-up variations and operability challenges cannot yet be accurately predicted via modelling, simulation, or even via a rigorous laboratory experimental investigation, albeit an essential part of optimising and designing of high-temperature processes. Extrapolating the observations from a series of laboratory tests needs to be validated at a larger scale. Mintek curates a number of pilot facilities, the majority of which are smelting equipment, enabling technology development from laboratory to pilot. Smelting processes frequently require process heat generated from electrical power and in the constrained energy environment, energy- intensive industries continuously strive to reduce electrical energy consumption and energy efficiency and energy optimisation is a primary area of research for Mintek. Alternative energy sources, such as solar thermal heat and gas-fired energy, are applied to existing processes to facilitate improved energy and environmental efficiency. Mintek excelled at developing high-impac...