Retort process, Belgian

Zinc occurs most abundantly in tire mineral. Sphalerite, ZnS, which is roasted to produce the oxide before the metal production stage. The products of the roast are then reduced by carbon to yield zinc oxide and CO(g). In the older process, tire Belgian retort process, the metal oxide and carbon are mixed together in a reactor which allows the indirect heating of the charge to produce the gaseous products followed by tire condensation of zinc at a lower temperature in a zone of the reactor which is outside the heating chamber. The carbon monoxide is allowed to escape from the vessel and is immediately burnt in... 

This continuous process is to be compared with a batch process, such as the Belgian retort process. In this, zinc oxide, free of lead or iron is reduced with carbon to produce zinc vapour, which is condensed in the cold section of the retort. The oxygen potential in this system is very much lower dran in the blast furnace, approximately at the C/CO equilibrium value. A vacuum-operated variant of dris level of reduction is caiTied out to produce zinc vapour which is subsequently converted to zinc oxide before condensation of the metal could take place. 

Belgian A process for making zinc from zinc oxide by reducing it with carbon in a retort. Invented in 1810. 

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