Large-Scale WEEE Recycling Integrated in an Ore-Based Cu-Extraction System

Abstract

At Boliden’s Rönnskär smelter, WEEE is smelted in a Kaldo process and the black copper, together or without the slag, is charged to the PS converter. This process route has proven to be a viable way to obtain a high WEEE smelting capacity in an originally ore-based process system. Experience shows that the slag in the PS converter is usually not fully liquid, and the amount of solids present in the slag increases due to introduction of slag and black copper from WEEE smelting. The effect of increased content of Al2O3 and Cr in the slag on the liquidus temperature has been calculated using FactSage both for the converter slag and for the slag in the electric smelting furnace. The potential of changed slag chemistry is discussed. The consequences of the applied praxis on the removal of Antimony in the converter have been modeled using SimuSage.