It looks as if it was frozen lava, but it is a by-product of metal smelting. If left piled up, it may have a strong negative impact on the environment. But when reused in a smart way, it can actually bring many benefits.

There are presents the internal recycling in anode furnace, in addition to mainly blister copper and converter copper. During the process

there arise the two types of semi-finished products intended for further pyro metallurgical processing: anode copper and anode slag. The

stream of liquid blister copper enters into the anode furnace treatment, in which the losses are recovered, e.g. copper, resulting from

oxidation and reduction of sulfides, oxides and the oxidation of metallic compounds of lead, zinc and iron. In the liquid phase there are

still gaseous states, which gives the inverse relationship relating to the solid phase, wherein the gases found an outlet in waste gas or

steam. The results of chemical analysis apparently differ from each other, because crystallite placement, the matrix structure and the

presence of other phases and earth elements are not compared, which can be regained in the process of electrorefining. One should not

interpret negatively smaller proportion of copper in the alloy, since during the later part of the production more elements can be obtained,

for example from sludge, such as platinum group metals and lanthanides. According to the research the quality of blister copper, to a large

extent, present in the alloy phase to many other elements, which can be recovered.

Among the elements that compose steel slags and blast furnace slags, metallic precipitates occur alongside the dominant glass and crystalline phases. Their main component is metallic iron, the content of which varies from about 90% to 99% in steel slags, while in blast furnace slags the presence of precipitates was identified with the proportion of metallic iron amounting to 100%. During observations using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray spectral microanalysis it has been found that the form of occurrence of metallic precipitates is varied. There were fine drops of metal among them, surrounded by glass, larger, single precipitates in a regular, spherical shape, and metallic aggregates filling the open spaces between the crystalline phases. Tests carried out for: slags resulting from the open-hearth process, slags that are a by-product of smelting in electric arc furnaces, blast furnace slags and waste resulting from the production of ductile cast iron showed that depending on the type of slag, the proportion and form of metallic precipitates is variable and the amount of Fe in the precipitates is also varied. Research shows that in terms of quality, steel and blast furnace slag can be a potential source of iron recovery. However, further quantitative analyses are required regarding the percentage of precipitates in the composition of slags in order to determine the viability of iron recovery. This paper is the first part of a series of publications aimed at understanding the functional properties of steel and blast furnace slags in the aspect of their destructive impact on the components of devices involved in the process of their processing, which is a significant operational problem.

This paper presents the idea of increasing the effectiveness of slag decopperisation in an electric furnace in the "Głogów II" Copper Smelter by replacing the currently added CaCO3with a less energy-intensive technological additive. As a result of this conversion, one may expect improved parameters of the process, including process time or power consumption per cycle. The incentives to optimize the process are the benefits of increasing copper production in the company and the growing global demand for this metal. The paper also describes other factors that may have a significant impact on the optimization of the copper production process. Based on the literature analysis, a solution has been developed that improves the copper production process. The benefits of using a new technology additive primarily include increased share of copper in the alloy, reduced production costs, reduced amount of power consumed per cycle and reduced time it takes to melt. At the conclusion of the paper, the issues raised are highlighted, stressing that mastering the slag slurry process in electric furnaces requires continuous improvement.

Discusses an attempt to optimize the operation of an electric furnace slag to be decopperisation suspension of the internal recycling

process for the production of copper. The paper presents a new method to recover copper from metallurgical slags in arc-resistance electric

furnace. It involves the use of alternating current for a first period reduction, constant or pulsed DC in the final stage of processing. Even

distribution of the electric field density in the final phase of melting caused to achieve an extremely low content of metallic copper in the

slag phase. They achieved by including the economic effects by reducing the time reduction.

Blast furnace and cupola furnace are furnace aggregates used for pig iron and cast iron production. Both furnace aggregates work on very similar principles: they use coke as the fuel, charge goes from the top to down, the gases flow against it, etc. Their construction is very similar (cupola furnace is usually much smaller) and the structures of pig iron and cast iron are very similar too. Small differences between cast iron and pig iron are only in carbon and silicon content. The slags from blast furnace and cupola furnace are very similar in chemical composition, but blast furnace slag has a very widespread use in civil engineering, primarily in road construction, concrete and cement production, and in other industries, but the cupola furnace slag utilization is minimal. The contribution analyzes identical and different properties of both kinds of slags, and attempts to explain the differences in their uses. They are compared by the contribution of the blast furnace slag cooled in water and on air, and cupola furnace slag cooled on air and granulated in water. Their chemical composition, basicity, hydraulicity, melting temperature and surface were compared to explain the differences in their utilization.

Research of metallurgical slags chemical composition, originating both from current production as well as gathered in dumping grounds formany years, show that they are very diversified. Slags contain substantial amounts of metals, including heavy metals, apart from elements from groups of non-metals and lanthanoids. In the article occurrence forms and relations with phase components of selected metals (iron, manganese, zinc, lead and others) on the basis of mineralogical and chemical research on slags after steel and ore Zn-Pb production were characterized. It was stated that metals may occur in metallurgical slags as fine drops not separated from slag during a metallurgical process, may form polymetallic aggregates, their own phases (especially oxide ones) and hide in structures of silicate phases. A considerable amount of metals is dissipated in glaze and amorphous substance. The conducted research delivers information on the occurrence of metals in metallurgical slags, which is extremely important during work connected with economic exploitation of slags. It especially refers to increasing attempts of acquiring elements from metallurgical slags. These activities determine the necessity of analyzing chemical and phase composition of slags because they may be an important indication, for instance while working on a proper technology of elements recovery.

There are two methods to produce primary copper: hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical. Copper concentrates, from which copper

matte is melted, constitute the charge at melting primary copper in the pyrometallurgical process. This process consists of a few stages, of

which the basic ones are roasting and smelting. Smelting process may be bath and flash. Slag from copper production, on the end of

process contain less 0,8%. It is treat as a waste or used other field, but only in a few friction. The slag amount for waste management or

storage equaled 11 741 – 16 011 million tons in 2011. This is a serious ecological problem. The following slags were investigated: slag

originated from the primary copper production process in the flash furnace of the Outtokumpuja Company in HM Głogów 2 (Sample S2):

the same slag after the copper removal performed according the up to now technology (Sample S1): slag originated from the primary

copper production process in the flash furnace of the Outtokumpuja Company in HM Głogów 2, after the copper removal performed

according the new technology (Sample S3). In practice, all tested slags satisfy the allowance criteria of storing on the dumping grounds of

wastes other than hazardous and neutral.

The scope of work included the launch of the process of refining slag suspension in a gas oven using a variety of technological additives.

After the refining process (in the context of copper recovery), an assessment of the effect of selected reagents at the level of the slag

refining suspension (in terms of copper recovery). Method sieve separated from the slag waste fraction of metallic, iron - silicate and

powdery waste. Comparison of these photographs macroscopic allowed us to evaluate the most advantageous method of separating

metallic fraction from the slag. After applying the sample A (with KF2 + NaCl) we note that in some parts of the slag are still large

amounts of metallic fraction. The fraction of slag in a large majority of the elements has the same size of 1 mm, and a larger portion of the

slag, the size of which is from 2 to 6 mm. Definitely the best way is to remove the copper by means of the component B (with NaCl ) and

D (with KF2

). However, as a result of removing the copper by means of component C (with CaO) were also obtained a relatively large

number of tiny droplets of copper, which was problematic during segregation. In both cases we were able to separate the two fractions in a

fast and simple manner.

The suspension of the copper droplets in the post-processing slag taken directly from the KGHM-Polska Miedź S.A. Factory (from the

direct-to-blister technology as performed in the flash furnace) was subjected to the special treatment with the use of the one of the typical

industrial reagent and with the complex reagent newly patented by the authors. This treatment was performed in the BOLMET S.A.

Company in the semi-industrial conditions. The result of the CaCO3, and Na2CO3 chemicals influence on the coagulation and subsequent

sedimentation of copper droplets on the crucible bottom were subjected to comparison with the sedimentation forced by the mentioned

complex reagent. The industrial chemicals promoted the agglomeration of copper droplets but the coagulation was arrested / blocked by

the formation of the lead envelope. Therefore, buoyancy force forced the motion of the partially coagulated copper droplets towards the

liquid slag surface rather than sedimentation on the crucible bottom. On the other hand, the complex reagent was able to influence the

mechanical equilibrium between copper droplets and some particles of the liquid slag as well as improve the slag viscosity. Finally, the

copper droplets coagulated successfully and generally, were subjected to a settlement on the crucible bottom as desired / requested.

Purging the liquid steel with inert gases is a commonly used treatment in secondary metallurgy. The main purposes for which this method is used are: homogenization of liquid steel in the entire volume of the ladle, improvement of mixing conditions, acceleration of the absorption process of alloy additives and refining of liquid steel from non-metallic inclusions. The basic processing parameters of this treatment are: gas flow rate and the level of gas dispersion in liquid steel. The level of gas dispersion depends on the design and location of the porous plug in the ladle. Therefore, these parameters have a significant impact on the phenomena occurring in the contact zone of liquid steel with slag. Their improper selection may cause secondary contamination of the bath with exogenous inclusions from the slag, or air atmosphere due to discontinuity of the slag and exposure of the excessive surface of the liquid steel free surface. The article presents the results of modelling research of the effect of liquid steel purging with inert gases on phenomena occurring in this zone.

The research was carried out using the physical (water) model of steel ladle. As a modelling liquid representing slag, paraffin oil was used, taking into account the conditions of similarity with particular reference to the kinematic viscosity. The results of the conducted research were presented in the form of visualization of phenomena occurring on the surface of the model liquid free surface in the form of photographs. The work is a part of a bigger study concerning modelling of ladle processes.

Copper slag is a by-product obtained during smelting and refining of copper. Copper smelting slag typically contains about 1 wt.% copper and 40 wt.% iron depending upon the initial ore quality and the furnace type. Main components of copper slag are iron oxide and silica. These exist in copper slag mainly in the form of fayalite (2FeO ·SiO2). This study was intended to recover pig iron from the copper smelting slag by reduction smelting method. At the reaction temperature of below 1400°С the whole copper smelting slag was not smelted, and some agglomerated, showing a mass in a sponge form. The recovery behavior of pig iron from copper smelting slag increases with increasing smelting temperature and duration. The recovery rate of pig iron varied greatly depending on the reaction temperature.

Metallurgical slag is often treated as a material which could be used in the waste management, especially for production different kinds of aggregate. So it is necessary to know that material not only considering technical properties, but also its mineral and chemical composition. Such researches could deliver many valuable information during the waste utilization. Researches were made for samples of the metallurgical slag after steel and Zn-Pb production. Samples were taken from chosen dumps localized in the Upper Silesian District. Beside metallic aggregates, silicate and oxide phases, glaze is one of the main component of the metallurgical slag. The following stages of the glaze devitrification were presented; from not transformed and isotropic glaze pieces to the strong weathered glaze. Transformed glaze is red or brown with the cracks on the surface. Cracks are often filled by the metals oxides, which can be liberated during the glaze devitrification. On the base of researches executed using the electron microprobe the chemical glaze composition was presented. The chemical composition of the glaze is variable what is connected with the kind of the metallurgical slag. The following main elements were distinguished in the metallurgical slag: Si, Al, Fe, Ca and Mg. Slag after steel production contains also Mn, P, S and the slag after Zn-Pb production contains: As, Cd, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Ti, Zn, Na, K, P and S.

Copper slag differs by chemical composition and structure, depending on the type of processing. Copper slag typically contains about 1 wt.% copper and 40 wt.% iron depending upon the initial ore quality and type of furnace used. The aim is to produce a typical foundry pig iron with the chemical composition of C > 3.40 wt.%, Si 1.40 to 1.80 wt.%, Mn 0.30 to 0.90 wt.%, P < 0.03 wt.% and S < 0.03 wt.% from copper slag. But foundry pig iron manufactured from copper slag contains a high sulphur content. Therefore, this study examines how to conduct desulphurization. Desulphurization roasting and reduction smelting with desulphurization additives used to remove sulphur from the copper slag. The results showed that desulphurization effect of desulphurization roasting is poor but when combined with reduction smelting with CaO addition is possible to manufacture low sulphur pig iron from copper smelting slag.