Abstract: A process for producing a solder product and a copper product from a first lead-tin based metal composition having at least 40% wt of copper and at least 5.0% wt together of tin and lead. The process includes the steps of partially oxidizing a first liquid bath having the first lead-tin based metal composition, thereby forming a first dilute copper metal composition and a first solder refining slag, followed by separating the slag from the metal composition, and partially oxidizing a second liquid bath having the first dilute copper metal composition, thereby forming a first high-copper metal composition and a third solder refining slag, followed by separating the third solder refining slag from the first high-copper metal composition, whereby the solder product is derived from the first solder refining slag.

Abstract: Metal compositions and processes for fractional crystallization of a molten crude tin mixture containing lead and silver are described. A process includes separating the molten crude tin mixture into a first silver-enriched liquid drain product at the liquid end of a crystallization step and a first tin-enriched product at the crystal end of the crystallization step whereby the first silver-enriched liquid drain product comprises on a dry weight basis 6.0-30.0% wt of lead, 70.0-91% wt of tin, 95.0-99.0% wt of lead and tin together, 0.75-5.00% wt of silver, and ?0.24% wt of antimony. The first silver enriched liquid drain product also includes at least one of: 0.05-0.5% wt of arsenic; 0.05-0.6% wt of copper, 0.0030-0.0500% wt of nickel, at least 0.0010-0.40% wt of bismuth, at most 1.0% wt of iron, or at least 0.0005% wt of gold, the balance being impurities.

Abstract: Disclosed is a metal mixture composition containing lead and tin, and comprising by weight at least 10% tin and 45% lead, at least 90% of tin and lead together, more lead than tin, from 1-5000 ppm of copper, at least 0.42% antimony and at least 0.0001 % wt of sulphur, at most 0.1% of the total of chromium, manganese, vanadium, titanium and tungsten, and at most 0.1% of each one of aluminium, nickel, iron and zinc. Disclosed is also a process comprising a pre-treatment step for producing this metal mixture composition, followed by a vacuum distillation step wherein lead is removed by evaporation and a bottom stream is obtained comprising at least 0.6% wt of lead.

Abstract: A disclosed process produces at least one concentrated copper product together with at least one crude solder product, starting from a black copper composition with at least 50% of copper together with at least 1.0% wt of tin and at least 1.0% wt of lead The process includes the step of partially oxidizing the black copper thereby forming a first copper refining slag, followed by partially reducing the first copper refining slag to form a first lead-tin based metal composition and a first spent slag. The total feed to the reducing step includes an amount of copper that is at least 1.5 times as high as the sum of the amounts of Sn plus Pb present, and the first spent slag includes at most 20% wt total of copper, tin and lead together.

Abstract: A dilute copper metal composition includes 57-85% wt Cu, ?3.0% wt Ni, ?0.8% wt Fe, 7-25% wt Sn and 3-15% wt Pb. A process includes the steps of partially oxidizing a black copper composition to obtain a first copper refining slag and a first enriched copper metal, partially oxidizing the first enriched copper metal to obtain a second copper refining slag, whereby at least 37.0% wt of the amount of tin and lead processed is retrieved in the first and second copper refining slags together; and partially reducing the first copper refining slag to form a first lead-tin based metal composition and a first spent slag. The process further includes the steps of adding the second copper refining slag to the first lead-tin based metal composition, thereby forming a first liquid bath; and partially oxidizing the first liquid bath, thereby obtaining the dilute copper metal composition.

Abstract: A disclosed dilute copper metal composition has 57-85% wt Cu, ?3.0% wt Ni, ?0.8% wt Fe, 7-25% wt Sn and 3-15% wt Pb. A process includes partially b) oxidizing a black copper composition to obtain a first copper refining slag and a first enriched copper metal. The process further includes oxidizing h) the first enriched copper metal to obtain a second copper refining slag, whereby at least 37.0% wt of the amount of tin and lead processed through steps b) and/or h) is retrieved in the first and second copper refining slags together, partially reducing c) the first copper refining slag to form a first lead-tin based metal composition and a first spent slag, adding the second copper refining slag to the first lead-tin based metal composition thereby forming a first liquid bath, partially oxidizing d) the first liquid bath, thereby obtaining the dilute copper metal composition.

Abstract: A process for the production of a crude solder composition includes the provision of a first solder refining slag that includes tin and/or lead. The process further includes the steps of partially reducing the first solder refining slag, thereby forming a crude solder metal composition and a second solder refining slag, followed by separating the second solder refining slag from the crude solder metal composition, and partially reducing the second solder refining slag, thereby forming a second lead-tin based metal composition and a second spent slag followed by separating the second spent slag from the second lead-tin based metal composition A copper containing fresh feed is added to step (ii), preferably before reducing the second solder refining slag.

Abstract: A process for a producing crude solder product and a copper product includes the steps of providing a black copper comprising >=50% wt of copper together with >=1.0% wt of tin and/or >=1.0% wt of lead, and refining a first portion of the black copper to obtain a refined copper product together with at least one copper refining slag. The process further includes the steps of recovering a first crude solder product from the copper refining slag, thereby forming a solder refining slag in equilibrium with the first crude solder product, and contacting a different portion of the black copper with the solder refining slag thereby forming a spent slag and a lead-tin based metal, followed by separating the spent slag from the lead-tin based metal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for recovering copper from secondary raw materials including in a feed batch smelting in a furnace a feedstock including copper oxide and elemental iron for forming a concentrated copper intermediate, whereby heat is generated by the redox reactions converting iron to oxide and copper oxide to copper, whereby copper collects in a molten liquid metal phase and iron oxides collect in a supernatant liquid slag phase, whereby at the end of the batch the liquid phases separate and may be removed from the furnace as smelter slag and as the concentrated copper intermediate, wherein during the smelting step an excess of elemental iron is maintained in the furnace relative to the amount required for completing the redox reactions, and further heat input is provided by the injection of an oxygen containing gas for oxidizing the excess iron.

Abstract: Disclosed is a single-chamber furnace for fuming an evaporable metal or metal compound from a metallurgical charge including a bath furnace for containing a molten charge up to a determined level, the furnace being equipped with a non-transferred plasma torch for the generation of plasma and a first submerged injector for injecting the plasma below the determined level, the furnace further including an afterburning zone to form an oxidized form of the at least one evaporable metal or metal compound, and a recovery zone for recovering the oxidized form from the gas formed in the afterburning zone, whereby the furnace is further equipped with a second submerged injector for injecting extra gas into the furnace below the determined level. Further disclosed is the use of the furnace and a process for fuming an evaporable metal or metal compound from a metallurgical charge.

Abstract: A metal composition includes from 90.10% wt up to 97% wt of copper, at least 0.1% wt of nickel, at least 0.0001% wt and less than 1.00% wt of iron, and 250-3000 ppm wt of oxygen. The composition is suitable for being processed by a process including the electrorefining of copper in an electrolytic cell, wherein the voltage difference over the cell is maintained at less than 1.6 volt, the anode comprises at most 98.0% wt of copper and less than 1.00% wt of iron, the current density through the cell is at least 180 A/m2 of cathode surface, electrolyte is removed from the cell during the operation at an average refreshing rate of 30-1900% per hour, by overflow of a stream of electrolyte over a cell wall, and a gas is bubbled through the electrolyte in between anode and cathode. The composition is even more suitable after a reduction of its oxygen content.

Abstract: Disclosed is a pyrometallurgical process for producing a crude solder comprising at least 9.5-69% wt of tin and at least 25% wt lead, at least 80% tin and lead together, 0.08-12% wt of copper, 0.15-7% wt of antimony, 0.012-1.5% wt of bismuth, 0.010-1.1% wt of zinc, at most 3% wt of arsenic, at most 2.8% wt of nickel, at most 0.7% wt of zinc, at most 7.5% wt of iron and at most 0.5% wt of aluminium, from a feedstock selected in terms of its levels of Sn, Cu, Sb, Bi, Zn, As, Ni and Pb, the process comprising at least the steps of obtaining in a furnace a liquid bath of metal and slag, introducing a reducing agent and optionally also energy, separating the crude solder from the slag and removing liquid from the furnace. The crude solder may readily be further prepared to become suitable as feedstock for vacuum distillation.

Abstract: A process for the production of a metal mixture composition containing lead and tin, and comprising by weight at least 10% tin and 45% lead, at least 90% of tin and lead together, more lead than tin, from 1-5000 ppm of copper, at least 0.42% antimony and at least 0.0001% wt of sulphur, at most 0.1% of the total of chromium, manganese, vanadium, titanium and tungsten, and at most 0.1% of each one of aluminium, nickel, iron and zinc. The process includes a pre-treatment step for producing the metal mixture composition, followed by a vacuum distillation step wherein lead is removed by evaporation and a bottom stream is obtained comprising at least 0.6% wt of lead.

Abstract: Metal compositions and processes for fractional crystallization of a molten crude tin mixture containing lead and silver are described. A process includes separating the molten crude tin mixture into a first silver-enriched liquid drain product at the liquid end of a crystallization step and a first tin-enriched product at the crystal end of the crystallization step whereby the first silver-enriched liquid drain product comprises on a dry weight basis 6.0-30.0% wt of lead, 70.0-91% wt of tin, 95.0-99.0% wt of lead and tin together, 0.75-5.00% wt of silver, and ?0.24% wt of antimony. The first silver enriched liquid drain product also includes at least one of: 0.05-0.5% wt of arsenic; 0.05-0.6% wt of copper, 0.0030-0.0500% wt of nickel, at least 0.0010-0.40% wt of bismuth, at most 1.0% wt of iron, or at least 0.0005% wt of gold, the balance being impurities.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the production of a purified soft lead product, including a first distillation step for distilling lead from a molten solder mixture to produce as overhead a first concentrated lead stream and as first bottom product a molten crude tin mixture. The process also includes a soft lead refining step for removing at least one contaminant selected from arsenic, tin and/or antimony from the first concentrated lead stream by treating the stream at a temperature of less than 600° C. with a first base and a first oxidant stronger than air, resulting in the formation of a third supernatant dross containing a metalate compound of the contaminant, followed by separating the third supernatant dross from the purified soft lead stream or product, whereby the third supernatant dross contains at most 1.0% wt of chlorine.

Abstract: Metal compositions and production processes are described. A process for the production of a metal composition includes a first distillation step separating off by evaporation primarily lead from a solder mixture of lead, tin, and antimony, thereby producing as a first concentrated lead stream. The process includes a second distillation step separating primarily lead and antimony from the metal composition, thereby producing a second concentrated lead stream and a second bottom product. The method also includes a third distillation step separating primarily lead and antimony from the second concentrated lead stream, thereby producing a third concentrated lead stream and a third bottom product.

Abstract: A process for the production of a crude solder composition includes the provision of a first solder refining slag that includes tin and/or lead. The process further includes the steps of partially reducing the first solder refining slag, thereby forming a crude solder metal composition and a second solder refining slag, followed by separating the second solder refining slag from the crude solder metal composition, and partially reducing the second solder refining slag, thereby forming a second lead-tin based metal composition and a second spent slag followed by separating the second spent slag from the second lead-tin based metal composition A copper containing fresh feed is added to step (ii), preferably before reducing the second solder refining slag.

Abstract: Disclosed is a pyrometallurgical process for producing a crude solder from a feedstock selected in terms of its levels of Sn, Cu, Sb, Bi, Zn, As, Ni and Pb, the process comprising at least the steps of obtaining in a furnace a liquid bath of metal and slag, introducing a reducing agent and optionally also energy, separating the crude solder from the slag and removing liquid from the furnace. Further disclosed is a crude solder comprising at least 9.5-69% wt of tin and at least 25% wt lead, at least 80% tin and lead together, 0.08-12% wt of copper, 0.15-7% wt of antimony, 0.012-1.5% wt of bismuth, 0.010-1.1% wt of zinc, at most 3% wt of arsenic, at most 2.8% wt of nickel, at most 0.7% wt of zinc, at most 7.5% wt of iron and at most 0.5% wt of aluminium. The crude solder may readily be further prepared to become suitable as feedstock for vacuum distillation.

Abstract: A process for copper production comprising electrorefining of copper in an electrolytic cell, wherein the voltage difference over the cell is maintained at less than 1.6 volt, the anode comprises at most 98.0% wt of copper and less than 1.00% wt of iron, the current density through the cell is at least 180 A/m2 of cathode surface, electrolyte is removed from the cell during the operation at an average refreshing rate of 30-1900% per hour, by overflow of a first stream of electrolyte over a cell wall, and a gas is introduced into the cell and bubbled through the electrolyte in between anode and cathode. Further disclosed is a liquid molten metal composition suitable for copper anode electrorefining comprising at least 90.10% wt and at most 97% wt of copper, at least 0.1% wt of nickel, at least 0.0001% wt and less than 1.00% wt of iron, and 250-3000 ppm wt of oxygen.

Abstract: A process for a producing crude solder product and a copper product includes the steps of providing a black copper comprising >=50% wt of copper together with >=1.0% wt of tin and/or >=1.0% wt of lead, and refining a first portion of the black copper to obtain a refined copper product together with at least one copper refining slag. The process further includes the steps of recovering a first crude solder product from the copper refining slag, thereby forming a solder refining slag in equilibrium with the first crude solder product, and contacting a different portion of the black copper with the solder refining slag thereby forming a spent slag and a lead-tin based metal, followed by separating the spent slag from the lead-tin based metal.