Reduction of Metallurgical Slags Using Sunflower Pellets

The presented paper presents the results of laboratory tests aimed at verifying the suitability for use as a biomass reducing agent in the form of sunflower pellets for the reduction of nonferrous metal oxides. A number of research techniques were used to verify the behavior of the tested material in the reduction process. The techniques used are mainly based on the use of high temperature, which is characteristic of metallurgical processes. The obtained results indicate that this material has similar values to other raw materials of this type in terms of heat of combustion at the level of 16 to 19 MJ kg⁻¹ and the content of volatile components at the level of 75 pct by mass. Research on the reduction of copper slags using sunflower pellets was carried out in various variants of duration and the amount of reducing agent added. The temperature of 1300 °C adopted in the tests reflects the actual process conditions. The obtained results indicate that with the increase in the amount of reducing agent added from 5.67 up to 12.0 wt pct, the degree of transition of copper and lead to the metallic phase increases from approximately 24 to 56 pct.