Principles of Non Ferrous

Extraction Metallurgy
Date 18th Aug, 2014

In last class

High temp vs low temp process

High pressure vs low pressure process
Combination of above HT+HP, LT+HP, LT+ LP
Heterogeneous and Homogenous reactions
Reaction at Interface
Chemical and physical adsorption

Adsorption

In pyrometallurgical processes
We are much concerned about chemical
adsorption (chemisorption)
Bond formation exists between species and
interfacial layer (sometimes also termed as
substrate)
Due to chemical in nature heat is evolved
which means bond has formed
If bond has formed than it is irreversible

Adsorption
Saturation of chemi adsorbed layer takes place
when layer by layer chemi adsorption takes
place which further delays the chemis
adsoprtion of approaching layer
To understand the adsorption process we
have to invoke a concept by assuming process
taking place at constant temperature

Langmiur adsorption isotherm

If adsorption is taking place at constant
temperature than it is known as adsorption
isotherm
The simplest one of such isotherm is Langmiur
adsorption isotherm where you consider no
mutual interaction among the adsorbed layer
and molecular being adsorbed
Langmiur adsorption isotherm is called ideal
adsorption isotherm and is applicable to
chemisorption of ideal gas on solid surface

Langmiur adsorption isotherm

We dont consider any mutual interaction
among adsorbed layer??
If interaction takes place among adsorbed
layer than due to such interaction there will
be rise or drop in interfacial temperature.
Such rise in temperature will disturb the
criteria of invoking isotherm

Refining process (Three approaches)

(1)Creation of proper thermodynamic and
kinetic conditions for transfer of impurity away
from metallic phase during extraction process
itself.
(2)Production of pure metal compound for
subsequent reduction
(3)Production of impure bulk metal during
extraction and subsequent purification by
refining methods

Refining process (Three approaches)

Creation of slag and achieving good slag metal
separation is and example for (1)
Large number of reactive metals and rare
earths are prepared using halides is and
example for (2)
Traditional mode of purification to produce
large quantities (3) ex: Aluminium/Copper

Purification process
Interestingly in all the purification process more
than one phase is involved (Heterogeneous)
The over all process depends on transfer of
impurities from one phase to another
Methods of purification widely employed
(a) Physical methods (Unit Operation)
(b) Chemical methods (Unit Process)
(c) Electrochemical methods (Unit Process)

Selective Distillation of Impurities

(Example of Physical Process)
TA , BP of A
TB, BP of B
TA< TB, which means on heating A vaporized
more easily
Evacuation of reaction chamber helps because it
allows working at lower temperature?? (Next
slide)

Volatile zinc can be removed from liquid lead

by vacuum distillation?? (next slide)
BP of Zinc 907 deg C, BP of Pb 1740 deg C
MP of Zinc 419 deg C, MP of Pb 327 deg C

Vapor pressure curves

Vapor pressure curves

Questions
When to apply selective distillation?
What about high vapor pressure metals. Can
we apply selective distillation? If we can apply
than what challenges we have?