Energy Conservation in the Zinc-Lead Blast Furnace

Abstract

Data are presented on processes for lead and zinc extraction from ores, and on energy consumption in zinc/lead blast furnaces and in the electrolytic process for producing zinc. It is concluded that the zinc-lead blast furnace process is more economical of primary fossil-fuel energy to make Grade I zinc than is the electrolytic zinc process with equivalent lead blast-furnace operation to give the same products. When the less-refined zinc grades are required, the advantage is considerably greater. The projected ''low-lead'' zinc blast-furnace process similarly promises to be significantly more economical of primary energy than the electrolytic zinc process. Further progress is being made in energy conservation in the electrolytic zinc process, and alternative lead smelting processes are being considered, so the position is not static. However, on the zinc-lead blast furnace, practicable measures equivalent to about 2 to 4 GJ per metric ton slab zinc are close at hand, and process development continues to increase operational efficiencies; i.e., slab metal produced per unit carbon bought. Thus this basic process is making and will continue to make a substantial contribution to resource economy, in its efficient use of fossil fuels as well as in its capacity to treat efficiently a widemore » range of primary and secondary, sulfide and oxidic, high-grade, low-grade, and complex feeds. (LCL)« less