Non-ferrous metal production capacity

Compared with the production of steel, in general, the energy required for the production of non-ferrous metals is relatively large.

According to statistics, if the energy consumption per ton of steel produced from ore is 100, magnesium is 1127, aluminum is 767, nickel is 455, copper is 352, and zinc is 206. Therefore, in the non-ferrous metal industry, the problem of reducing energy consumption is very prominent. In the process of mining, beneficiation, smelting, processing and recycling of non-ferrous metals, a variety of extraction methods are available. As far as the smelting process is concerned, it is usually divided into pyrometallurgy, hydrometallurgy and electrometallurgy. Pyrometallurgy generally has the ability to handle concentrates and can utilize the heat of combustion of sulfur in sulfide ore, which can economically recover precious metals and rare metals. However, it is often difficult to achieve good environmental protection. Hydrometallurgy is commonly used to treat polymetallic ore, low grade ore and refractory ore; electrometallurgy is suitable for the production of highly active metals such as aluminum, magnesium and sodium.

These methods are selected for use in combination with the mineral composition being processed. In order to strengthen the smelting process of non-ferrous metals, a series of new technologies, new methods and new equipment have been developed, such as high pressure leaching, fluidized roasting, organic solvent extraction, ion exchange, metal thermal reduction, regional melting, vacuum metallurgy, and injection. Metallurgy, rare metal plasma metallurgy, chlorination metallurgy and continuous casting and rolling, isostatic pressing, diffusion welding, superplastic forming, etc., have greatly enriched the theory and technology of metallurgy and continuously promoted the development of non-ferrous metal production.