Producing and refining metals through high-temperature thermal processes including roasting, smelting, converting, and refining.
Processes within Pyrometallurgy
Roasting
Heats ore or concentrate in a controlled atmosphere to drive chemical reactions without melting the material. The process can oxidize sulfides, remove sulfur or other volatiles, and prepare material for leaching, smelting, or refining.
Calcining
Heats material below its melting point to remove volatiles, decompose compounds, or alter mineral structure. It is used to drive off water or carbon dioxide, activate materials, and prepare feed for subsequent processing or product use.
Smelting
Uses high-temperature reactions to separate metal from ore or concentrate and produce a molten metal-bearing phase. Furnace conditions, reductants, fluxes, and slag chemistry are controlled to maximize metal recovery and remove impurities.
Refining
Removes remaining impurities from metal-bearing products to achieve required purity and product specifications. Refining may use thermal, chemical, or electrolytic methods depending on the metal, feed composition, and required final product.
Converting
Oxidizes molten sulfide material to remove iron and sulfur and produce a higher-grade metal product. Air or oxygen is introduced to form a separable slag and produce matte, blister metal, or another intermediate for refining.
