Pyrometallurgical processing of minerals and industrial solid wastes to obtain products of industrial usefulness

Abstract

Introduction. Cuba has a great diversity of minerals and industrial solid wastes, which can have used with the objective of converting them into raw materials for obtaining materials destined to make components and products for industrial use, through pyrometallurgical processing, with a positive ecological effect.Methods. The pyrometallurgical processing, carbothermic in an electric arc furnace and aluminothermic in a graphite reactor, of minerals and industrial solid wastes were carried out, evaluating the products obtained in the development of new materials. Results. Refractory chromites and pyrolusite were processed by carbothermia and by aluminothermia, mill scale, spent catalysts from the manufacture of sulfuric acid, ashes from the combustion of oil, tails from the production of nickel, pyrolusite and refractory chromites, mixed in different combinations and proportions, using aluminum shavings as a reducer in all cases. Multicomponent alloys suitable for use as alloy filler for welding and surfacing consumables and recharging were achieved, and in the case of ashes, the alloys were obtained in shot form for use in mechanical cleaning operations. The slags from the carbothermic process were use in the manufacture of welding flux matrices, and the aluminothermic ones to obtain powders for the manufacture of abrasive wheels for polishing floors and terraces, given their high hardness. As a conclusion the product obtained from the pyrometallurgical processing of minerals and industrial solid wastes were evaluated in the manufacture of products applicable in industry, which allows for the substitution of imports to the country.