Solar Technology Laboratory
Solar thermal reduction of sulfide ores |
| Running time: 2002 to 2004 |
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Funding: Swiss Federal Office of Energy |
DescriptionExtraction of metals from its ores most often requires conversion of the original ore to the oxidic form (roasting) and the subsequent electrolytic or carbothermal reduction of the metal oxide to the metal. Roasting, a strongly exothermic process, liberates large amounts of gaseous pollutants such as corrosive sulfur dioxide (SO2). The reduction requires large amounts of energy and is thus tied to a large CO2 emission. Given the vast size of the extractive metallurgy industry solar production of metals straight from its original ores provides an enormeous potential for lessen the environemental impact of these processes. Our research acivities are focussing on the direct solarthermal reduction of transition metal sulfides. |
References
- Sturzenegger M. "Solar Thermal Extraction of Metal from Sulfide Concentrates" The Global Mining Initiative Conference, Toronto/Canada, 2002. PDF file 265 kB
- Guesdon C., Sturzenegger M. "Solar thermal extraction of copper and zinc from sulfides", PSI Scientific Report 2001 - Volume V, 37-38, 2001. PDF file 61 kB