Constituents and porosity of lead concentrate pellets produced in the trepce plant
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
2-28-2011
Department
Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Abstract
Both composition and porosity of pellets are the main parameters influencing the reductive melting process in water-jacket furnace during the roasting of sulfide lead concentrate. Roasting in a smelter located in Trepçë is done at about 900°C, for pellets which are composed of PbS, CaCO3, Fe2O3, and SiO2. In order to feciltiate the formation of slag in the reductive melting, the pellets must have the proper content of CaO, SiO2, and FeO, and porosity. The plant's practice indicates that pellets with porosity of 18% do not melt adequately in the water-jacket furnace. The optimum porosity for the proper melting of pellets needs to be 32-40% and can be achieved when pellets are loaded with more than 10 wt.% CaO. Pellets with less than 10% CaO have a limited network of pores, such that reactive gases cannot reach the entire ore structure. Also, the composition of the pellets must satisfy the ratio of CaO : SiO2 : FeO = 1 : 1.2 : 1.8 to facilitate the formation of slag in the reductive melting process.
Publication Title
TMS Annual Meeting
Recommended Citation
Haxhiaj, A.,
&
Drelich, J.
(2011).
Constituents and porosity of lead concentrate pellets produced in the trepce plant.
TMS Annual Meeting, 289-297.
http://doi.org/10.1002/9781118062081.ch35
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p/3383