Basic Study on the Resource Recovery of Metal Plating Sludge and Aluminum Dross Using Thermit Reaction

In the present study, we conducted basic experiments on resource recovery of rare metals, especially nickel, using thermit reaction between metal oxide in the metal plating sludge and metal aluminum in the aluminum dross. As a result, we have reached the following conclusions.(1) We designed a process consisting of drying, calcination, griding, mixing and briquette to make the best use of thermit reaction. The results showed that the briquette excels the powder mixture in use of efficient thermit reaction.(2) It was confirmed from DTA and calcination experiments that the initial temperature of thermit reaction between the metal plating sludge and aluminum dross was about 1500K.(3) The purity of recovered metals was more than 90%. Metal oxide in the metal plating sludge was sufficiently reduced. Furthermore, it was pointed out that the mixing ratio of the metal plating sludge to the aluminum dross should be based on the reaction equation.