Copper, primary smelting

Primary smelting and refining of copper 3334 Primary production of aluminum 3339 Primary smelting and refining of nonferrous metals, except copper and aluminum 3341 Secondary smelting and refining of nonferrous metals... 

Primary Aluminum Smelting (kg/T Chlorine Demagging (kg/T of Magnesium Wet Processing Primary Copper Primary Copper Secondary Primary Lead1 Primary Zinc (kg/T of... 

TABLE 13.1 Major World Producers of Copper Concentrates and Primary Smelted Copper"... 

Sandifer, R.D. (1996) The effects of cadmium, copper, lead and zinc contamination on arthropod communities in the vicinity of a primary smelting works. PhD thesis, University of Reading, UK. 

Refining operations are assumed to cover all crude bullion impurity separation procedures including the first copper drossing operation, which is often regarded as part of primary smelting as distinct from refining operations. 

Sulfide ores are usually concentrated by mechanical upgrading and flotation processes at the mine. The nickel concentrate is then transported to the refinery for py-rometallurgical treatment j fter a roasting, to drive off part of the sulfur as sulfur dioxide SOj, the material is melted with a siliceous flux. This primary smelting forms two liquid phases, one a sihcate slag and one a sulfide phase, a low-grade matte, containing nickel and copper but also some iron. 

Recovery of copper metal and alloys from copper-bearing scrap metal and smelting residues requires preparation of the scrap (e.g., removal of insulation) prior to feeding into the primary process. Electric arc furnaces using scrap as feed are also common. 

After pretreatment, the scrap is ready for smelting. Although the type and quality of the feed material determines the processes the smelter will use, the general fire-refining process is essentially the same as for the primary copper smelting industry. 

Tables 3.39 and 3.40 illustrate TRI releases and transfers for the primary nonferrous metals smelting and refining industry. For this industry as a whole, chlorine comprises the largest number of TRI releases. This is reflected in the fact that chlorine is a byproduct of the magnesium industry and the largest reporter is a magnesium facility. The other top releases are copper compounds, zinc compounds, lead compounds, and sulfuric acid.

Silver items, however, are also relatively rare in the archaeological record. The most common metal found is either copper, usually alloyed with either tin (bronze) or, in the later periods, zinc (brass), or iron. The latter contains very little lead and, because of severe corrosion problems, its survival rate is often low (but see Degryse et al., 2007). Fortunately, copper can also be characterized from its lead isotope signature, since the primary ore of copper is chalcopyrite (CuFeS2), which often co-occurs with galena (PbS) and sphalerite (ZnS). Even if the ore used is a secondary mineral formed by the oxidation of the primary deposit, the copper smelted from such a deposit would normally be expected to... 

Arsenic occurs primarily in sulphide minerals associated with copper ores, and to a lesser extent with zinc, lead and gold ores. Arsenic is produced as a by-product of the smelting of these metals. Primary arsenic production has now ceased in the USA and Europe, and most arsenic is now imported from China and Mexico. The volatility of arsenic represents a significant concern, and there is at present no known natural mechanism by which arsenic is immobilized in the environment. Anthropogenic activities account for an input of some 19000 tonnes into the atmosphere, compared with 12000 tonnes from natural processes, such as volcanism and forest fires (Ayres and Ayres, 1996). 

National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Primary Copper Smelting National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Secondary Aluminum Production National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Primary Lead Smelting National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Petroleum Refineries Catalytic Cracking Units, Catalytic Reforming Units, and Sulfur Recovery Units... 

Tin has a long, colorful history. This metal was discovered first in Thailand over 2000 years ago. Early craftsmen discovered that bronze - a noncorrosive metal that is extremely hard and strong enough to be used for spears, swords, arrows, and other especially important objects at that time - could be produced by smelting tin with copper. Tin is also the primary constituent of pewter. Long ago, people developed the belief that trace amounts of tin seemed to help prevent fatigue and depression, and that drinking out of tin cups could help combat these ailments. Tin... 

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