Extractive metallurgy — Pyrometallurgy

It is assumed that the reader has a basic knowledge of chemical thermodynamics and metallurgical furnaces, enabling the development of general points of view applicable to several metallurgies. As this is only an introduction to pyrometallurgy, no subject can be studied in depth, nor can an extensive exposition be provided for each one.

Thanks to advances in basic physico-chemical knowledge, metallurgists have a better command of processes than in the past, so they can deliver more consistent products, and can process ores with lower grades and minerals known to be refractory.

Thanks to advances in technology, pyrometallurgy has :

• increase production enormously;

• Develop high temperatures thanks to advances in electrical technology;

• create new control systems that aim to replace the operator's intuition and experience with rigid controls dictated by complex mathematical equations, an evolution linked to advances in electronics and computers.

Last but not least, we should mention the considerable progress made in the following areas:

• the recovery and recycling of metals and alloys, both in terms of production and used metals, the latter leading to secondary materials;

• recovery of co-products, since pyrometallurgy is not confined to the production of metal alone;

• gas and effluent treatment, to protect the environment (air, water and soil pollution).