National Metallurgical Laboratory Research Articles

Exploration of people centric organizational health dimensions: a study of Indian R&D organization

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify the dimensions of organizational health with the help of existing literature and focus group discussion on organizational health. The study also tries to categorize various antecedents and consequences of organizational health.Design/methodology/approachLiterature review was conducted with limited search word on organizational health using databases like Emerald, Ebsco and Science direct. Focus group discussions were performed at Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute and National Metallurgical Laboratory – laboratories of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, an Indian R&D organization. A total of 29 male and 6 female respondents participated in the focus group discussion.FindingsThe results showed that various dimensions of organizational health which were found using focus group discussions were in congruence with the literature reviewed on organizational health. The findings of focus group discussion also listed the antecedents and consequences of organizational health in an R&D organization.Research limitations/implicationsThe literature presented conflicting views on organizational health construct. The focus group discussion provided clarity on the dimensions of organizational health. An empirical research can be done on organizational health considering dimensions identified during the focus group discussion.Originality/valueIt is an attempt to conceptualize the construct of organizational health in a research and development organization with the help of focus group discussion.

Metal bioaccumulation in fish Labeo rohita exposed to effluent generated during metals extraction from polymetallic sea nodules

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential impact of effluent released during metals extraction from polymetallic sea nodules at the Pilot Plant at National Metallurgical Laboratory, India, by analysing different metal (Mn, Cu, Zn, Fe, Pb and Cr) concentrations in six tissues (skin, muscles, gills, liver, kidney and brain) of the fish Labeo rohita. Of the six analysed tissues of sea-nodule-effluent-exposed fish, liver accumulated highest concentration of most of the metals (2.91–287.36 mg kg−1) while muscles (2.1–81.14 mg kg−1) lowest. While the concentration of Fe was maximum (60.41–218.7 mg kg−1) in all the tissue systems (except muscles and liver), Pb was minimum (0.8–2.91 mg kg−1). Accumulation of most of the metals in all the tissues was above the safe limits as recommended by Food and Agricultural Organisation that indicate metal’s potential hazardous impact on the fish. High bioaccumulation factors for these metals in the different tissues revealed that metals were extensively bio accumulated and bio concentrated. The time-dependent variation in metal pollution index illustrated increase in gross metal load (p < 0.05) in different tissue components with increase in exposure period. In conclusion, the sea nodule effluent was found to cause adverse health impact on the fish which in turn might also affect the human health when consumed.

Phytoremediation of the Toxic Effluent Generated During Recovery of Precious Metals from Polymetallic Sea Nodules

Recovery of metals from the polymetallic sea nodules at the pilot plant at National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur, India has generated a highly toxic effluent. This effluent contains several metals like Mn, Cu, Zn, Fe, Pb, Cr, and Cd that pollute the neighboring water bodies when discharged. Hence detoxification of this effluent was practiced using two plants: Lemna minor and Azolla pinnata for 7 days. During investigation A. pinnata removed 96% of Mn, 97% of Cu, 98% of Zn, 70% of Fe, 96% of Pb, 93% of Cr, 78% of Cd, and was comparatively more effective than L. minor which removed 94% of Mn, 86% of Cu, 62% of Zn, 74% of Fe, 84% of Pb, 63% of Cr, 78% of Cd. During the 7 days of experiment chlorophyll content decreased by 51% and 59% in A. pinnata and L. minor respectively. Based on our findings we can suggest that these two plants have wide range of metal retention potentialities hence can be of routine use for purification of toxic effluents.

Use of Portable Automated Ball Indentation System to Evaluate Mechanical Properties of Steel Pipes

In this study, portable automated ball indentation technique (PABI) has been applied to evaluate the few mechanical properties of steel pipes and excellent correlation has been obtained with conventional test results. A PABI system, developed and fabricated at National Metallurgical laboratory, India, was used to evaluate the mechanical properties. The operational parameters were optimized for various materials to measure yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, true-stress versus true-plastic-strain curve, strength coefficient (K), strain-hardening-exponent (n), hardness (BHN) and fracture toughness (KJC). This unit can be mounted on components with curved or flat surfaces and properties of the material could be evaluated by making a very small indentation. Also it has provision to use small test specimens. Automation of the test, where a computer and test controller were used in innovative ways to control the test as well as to analyze test data made it simple, accurate, economical and highly reproducible. A LabVIEW BASED S/W was made to control the unit.

Recent trends and current practices for secondary processing of zinc and lead. Part I: lead recovery from secondary sources.

Implementation of stricter environmental laws and economic reasons has forced all the metallurgical industries to go for eco-friendly technologies to produce metal and other related products. However, generation of wastes is an integral part of metallurgical industries. If the wastes/residues are hazardous in nature, they generally have to be treated or/and disposed of in safe and designated dumping sites. If these wastes/residues are non-hazardous in nature, then they may be suitable for use as secondary raw material to recover metals such as lead, copper etc., which are in growing demand all over the world. The processing of lead secondaries is important because of their relative high metal content, as well as the low energy and cost involved in recovering the metal. This paper mainly focuses on the current practices and recent trends in the secondary processing of lead. Various processes, particularly hydrometallurgical ones, already developed or in the development stages, are discussed. Attempts made by various Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Laboratories including the National Metallurgical Laboratory (NML) and industries such as Binani Zinc to develop eco-friendly processes for the recovery of lead from secondary raw materials are also described.

Solid waste management in non-ferrous industries in India

This paper highlights the production capacity, type and quantity of solid wastes generated, their chemical composition and treatment/disposal options for the Indian aluminium, copper lead and zinc industries. Red mud, spent pot lining (SPL), fly ash from aluminium industries; scrap, slag, dross, reverts, slime, flue dust, mill scales, sludge etc. from copper industries; zinc tailing, slag, leach residue, jarosite residue, β-cake, etc. from zinc industries and BF slag, flue dust, ISF slag etc. from lead industries are the major solid waste generated from the process. Common practices of waste management in these industries are through recycling and recovering the metal values and dumping. Owing to the presence of the toxic elements in some of the solid wastes cause environmental degradation. Stringent pollution control rules are being enacted and implemented as a result of which all the metal producing industries in organised sector are now taking care of the environment and waste management related problems, but pollution from unorganized lead units are the major cause of concern. Permissible limits of toxic constituents in zinc based secondaries and threshold zinc concentration for both indigenous and imported raw material were worked out at National Metallurgical Laboratory (NML) and based on these results a recommendation to MOEF, Government of India was made to specify the permissible limits for the import of zinc secondaries. An overview of the attempts made to recycle/recover metal values and production of value added products, at NML are also mentioned in the text.

Mineralogical Characteristics of Copper Electrorefining Anode Slime and Its Leached Residues

A new approach for the treatment of copper electrorefining anode slime based on hydrometallurgical route involving sulfuric acid leaching with additives such as manganese dioxide and sodium chloride has been developed at National Metallurgical Laboratory (NML), Jamshedpur, India. Mineralogical characterization of the anode slime and the residues after various leaching treatments, carried out by XRD, SEM, and EDX studies, are reported in this paper. The XRD studies of the untreated anode slime sample revealed the presence of CuSO4·5H2O, NiO, CuSe, BaSO4, and (Cu0.2Ni0.8)O phases. NiO crystals and selenide rings were found in the SEM studies. After sulfuric acid leaching, the residues under X-ray diffraction analysis showed the absence of the (Cu0.2Ni0.8)O phase. When MnO2 was added during sulfuric acid leaching, the new phases MnSe and CuSeO3·2H2O were found in XRD studies of the residue. The general view of the residue under SEM revealed a number of porous structures favoring the ash-diffusion-controlled reaction in leaching. Leaching with both MnO2 and NaCl in the sulfuric acid medium resulted in precipitated AgCl in the residue, as observed by XRD studies. The porous AgCl mass observed under SEM confirmed the ash-diffusion-controlled nature of the leaching reaction.

Structure and structure/property correlations in elecrolytic iron made from sponge iron: R.R.Dash. (National Metallurgical Laboratory, India.)

Structure and structure/property correlations in elecrolytic iron made from sponge iron: R.R.Dash. (National Metallurgical Laboratory, India.)

The Cu-Pb-Sn (copper-lead-tin) system

Work was supported by National Metallurgical Laboratory, India. Literature searched through 1990.

Production of electrolytic iron powder from sponge iron fines : R.R. Dash et al (National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur, India)

Production of electrolytic iron powder from sponge iron fines : R.R. Dash et al (National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur, India)

Production of electrolytic iron powder from sponge iron fines: R.R. Dash et al, (National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur, India)

Production of electrolytic iron powder from sponge iron fines: R.R. Dash et al, (National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur, India)

Biohydrometallurgy in India 1980–1981 — A brief round-up

The interest in Geomicrobiology and Biohydrometallurgy has quickened its pace in India and there has been a spate of papers presented at four recent symposia after a lapse of almost eight years, when the first symposium in India on Bacterial Leaching was held in 1972 at the National Metallurgical Laboratory.

Development of Superduty Silica Bricks with Indigenous Raw Materials

Development of superduty silica bricks with indigenous raw materials which are known to be abundant, was investigated in the National Metallurgical Laboratory. Three samples of quartzites from Jamda, Mihijam and Hyderabad were studied. This study has revealed that crypto-crystalline variety of Jamda quartzite which is very low in alumina, can be used successfully for the manufacture of superduty silica brick by proper granulometric control, high pressure forming and firing under strictly controlled conditions. The product thus obtained has the requisite properties of a superduty quality brick. The addition of low alumina quartzite fines to graded Mihijam quartzite did not effect any tangible improvement in the physical properties of silica brick specimen made out of the mix, probably due to the very friable nature of this low alumina quartzite from Hyderabad. However, appreciable improvement in porosity, permeability, refractoriness under load etc. could be attained by proper forming and by improved proce...

Pilot Plant Studies on the Production of Forsterite Refractories Part—I: Study of Process Variables

Investigations undertaken at the National Metallurgical Laboratory on forsterite refractories have been reviewed. Relevant process details as developed on a laboratory scale have been discussed. Pilot Plant studies on the production of these refractories from basic rock, utilising two alternative processes, have been described. The results indicate that it is possible to process serpentine to make forsterite refractories by a one stage process provided serpentine powders are properly graded and blends of high packing densities are used. Magnesite additions in such bodies, should preferably contain certain proportions of light calcined magnesia. Fabrication pressure of the order of 10,000–14,000 p.s.i. appears to be optimum for these mixes. The results confirm that on a large scale, the two stage process developed earlier also yields good compacts of satisfactory properties although the process is expensive both in initial capital outlay as well as in process costs.

Steel Plant Refractories—Research and Development in the National Metallurgical Laboratory

The research and testing facilities for refractories, available in the National Metallurgical Laboratory are described and a brief review of the work carried out so far is given. This covers evaluation of refractory raw materials such as, fire clay, bauxite, kyanite, sillimanite, silica, zircon, magnesite, chromite, dolomite and carbon and development of new processes using these raw materials. Service rendered to the industry as well as the Government Departments by carrying out investigations on projects sponsored by them are enumerated.

Some Observations on the Manufacture of Carbon Refractories in India

The demand for carbon refractories in India has been assessed on the basis of the requirements of existing integrated steel plants. Necessity for indigenous production of carbon refractories is examined. Raw material's position has been discussed in the light of the comprehensive work under way at the National Metallurgical Laboratory on the production of carbon refractories, on dense carbon aggregates and on Soederberg paste. Certain recommendations have been made for the setting up of a composite plant for structural carbons as well as carbon paste.

Some Recent Developments in the Production of Clay Graphite Products for Handling Steel

The application of clay graphite products in the handling of steel is reviewed. Availability of raw materials in the country and work done at National Metallurgical Laboratory on their suitability and improvement have been discussed. Finally the properties of certain products developed during the course of the above work are given and the steps taken to utilise the results on a commercial scale are described.

Growth Pattern of Steel Plant Refractories in India

The growth of steel plant refractories which follows closely the iron and steel industry has been traced for the past one and half decades and the gradual fall in refractory consumption per ton of ingot steel produced in India during the same period has been indicated. Based on the present consumption rate and estimate for the future as well as the projected targets for iron and steel industry upto the end of the fourth five year plan, the refractory requirements and the course of action necessary to meet the demand have been suggested. The role of National Metallurgical Laboratory in catering to the needs of the industry has been mentioned briefly.

Book Reviews

Symposium on Pilot Plants in Metallurgical Research and Development Held at the National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur, India, February 15th to 18th, 1960. Edited by R. M. Krishnan. (Organized by the National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur.) Pp. 304. (Calcutta: The Technical Journals of India Private, Ltd., 1960.) n.p.

Book Reviews

Symposium on Pilot Plants in Metallurgical Research and Development Held at the National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur, India, February 15th to 18th, 1960. Edited by R. M. Krishnan. (Organized by the National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur.) Pp. 304. (Calcutta: The Technical Journals of India Private, Ltd., 1960.) n.p.