Thermal treatment of dusts from non ferrous metallurgical industries

Three samples of dusts generated by the non ferrous metallurgical industries are treated between 200 and 800 °C in controlled oxidizing and reducing atmospheres. The objective of this study is to recover the valuable metals from these wastes. The treatments of these solids under oxidizing conditions at 700 °C are well adapted for two samples. The totality of valuable elements are concentrated in the treatments' residues. The use of hydrogen at 600 °C, permits the removal of up to 100 % of valuable metals contained in the treated industrial wastes. The recovery rate of valuable metals (Pb, Zn, Cu) as well as the Global Decontamination Factor are reported.