The Kivcet Treatment of Polymetallic Feeds

This manuscript describes the Kivcet treatment of lead-bearing materials having high contents of copper and zinc. The tests were carried out on bulk concentrates from the Zyrianovsk Mining and Concentrating complex, "Kazzinc" JSC (Kazakhstan) with the following composition: Pb 37.6%, Cu 10.4% and Zn 6.8%. Two properties of the concentrate were under investigation: their calorific value and their desulphurization rate. By adding flux, the charge properties were brought close to the properties of high-grade lead sulphide concentrate. The charge was melted with high productivity. To ensure high copper recovery, Waelz residue was added to the charge. The residue contained more than 20% carbon and about 30% iron metal. The residue was partially replaced by coke that facilitates high copper recovery into the matte. The smelting achieved a production rate of 20 t/h with one burner. Lead recovery into the lead bullion was 88.8%; copper recovery into matte was 92.3%; zinc recovery into slag was 75.5%; and zinc recovery into the fume was 5.1%.