Studies on the recovery of Metallics from the Dross Samples from M/S. Leader Engineering Works, Jullundur

Two samples of furnace dross were received from M/s. Leader Engineering Works, Jullundur with a vied to develop a suitable process for recovery of metallics from these by ore dressing and other techniques. The sample 1 consisted essentially of lumps of dross carrying a considerable amount of metallic values. The sample 1 contained nearly 42% metallic and optimum conditions were established for recovery of the same. A process comprising of attrition grinding, followed by screening, classification, and tabling recovered 41.5% metallic by weight with respect to the original sample. The combined metallic concentrate thus produced represented a recovery of about 98% metallics and the product was sufficiently of a good purity suitable for melting. Treatment of hydro classifier slime by xanthate flotation concentrate comprising mostly of oxides of Cu and Zn and metallics. The concentrate had a wt. % of 1.6 and analysed 31.25% Cu and 27.4% Zn. Hydrometallurgical methods may have to be resorted to for recovery of metallic values from this product. Sample 2 which was the present-day rejects dumped after recovery of metallics from the dross, was also investigated in detail, as it also contained nearly 3% metallics by weight. Attrition grinding of the sample in a rod mill followed by tabling treatment produced a table concentrate weighing 2.06% and analyzing 52.0% Cu and 31.51% Zn. A second table concentrates 7.18% by weight, but assaying 12.14% Cu and 20.16% Zn was also recovered from the rejects. Both the concentrates were subjected to melting studies individually and a combined metal recovery of 2.16% by weight was achieved. This showed that nearly 10Kgs. of metal are being lost in the present-day rejects dumped at Jullundur, and the same could easily be recovered by attrition grinding and tabling treatments.