Sinter Plant and Smelter Dusts

Flue dusts and fumes collected from sinter plant and smelter gases can contain concentrations of volatile metals as well as lead and zinc. Elements which tend to concentrate in sinter plant dusts are 

Apart from lead, blast furnace dusts are often enriched in cadmium, zinc and indium, and can be a source for recovery. Again separation before recycle may be necessary to provide an outlet and prevent the development of heavy circulating loads. 

In direct lead smelting with no sintering operation, some of the volatile elements will be retained and captured by lead bullion and may need special removal procedures. In particular this applies to thallium. 

Ashman, D W, Goosen, D W, Reynolds, D G and Webb, D J, 2000. Cominco s new lead smelter at Trail operations, in Proceedings Lead-Zinc 2000, pp 171-185 (The Minerals, Metals and Materials Society (TMS) Warrendale). 

Turner, G H and Peters, E, 1955. Fuming of zinc from lead blast furnace slags, J of Metals, March, p472. 

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