Technical feasibility of smelting low-grade scrap copper using oxygen-enriched top-blown bath smelting technology
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I intend to use the internationally advanced oxygen-enriched top-blown bath melting technology (such as Osmelt and Aisa furnaces) for the smelting of low-grade scrap copper (such as waste circuit boards, waste electrical components, obsolete mobile phones, waste smelting slag, waste wires, cables, etc.). In China, there are already over a dozen manufacturers that use this technology for the smelting of copper concentrate, but no manufacturers have adopted it for processing scrap copper; as a result, there is a lack of practical production experience and relevant data. I hope that experts will actively participate in the technical discussions and share their opinions and insights; I would be extremely grateful for that!
This path doesn’t work. Because those wastes vary greatly in form, composition, and source. Those two types of oxygen-enriched top-blown furnaces are quite picky about the composition and form of the raw materials (though less so than flash furnaces), and they are most sensitive to large fluctuations in the condition of the raw materials. Moreover, the investment is high, making it suitable for industrial-scale production with a stable supply of raw materials. It is recommended to use wet leaching in combination with an electric furnace or a closed blast furnace. However, dealing with the flue gas emissions from these two types of furnaces is a real challenge.
Jiangxi Copper is currently building a large copper scrap recycling plant, which is said to be the largest of its kind in China; they might be able to get some assistance there
It simply won’t work; just the issue of smelting slag alone is enough to rule it out (given the current level of technology). In top-blown melting, the biggest problem is the presence of excessive amounts of ferrous oxide and ferric oxide in the furnace, as this increases the risk of foam slag erupting from the furnace, and it is ferrous oxide and ferric oxide that are most abundant in smelting waste slag. So I think it won’t work
It is technically entirely feasible. Osmate Corporation has conducted experimental work in this area. It can be contacted.
6# Always learn*: For the smelting of scrap copper, using a Carro furnace offers many advantages
The top-blown furnace mentioned by the original poster is difficult to implement, as both bottom-blown and top-blown furnaces require self-heating or semi-self-heating conditions; whereas in the situation described, external heat supply is necessary entirely. Refractory furnaces or blast furnaces could be considered alternatives.
A direct reflection furnace should suffice for scrap copper; the investment required is low. I seem to have seen information on the use of top-blown furnaces, but it’s only for experimental purposes