Contributions of Non-ferrous Smelters
to Metal Resource Circulation in Japan
Etsuro Shibata
Abstract As contributions of non-ferrous smelters to metal resource circulation,
ores and secondary raw materials, such as scrap and waste, are treated to recover base
metals such as copper, lead, and zinc, as well as other precious and minor metals. One
crucial factor that makes this metal recovery possible is the creation of an organic
link among copper, lead, and zinc smelters. In recent years, the specialization of
non-ferrous smelting companies has been promoted in Japan, and it has become
difficult to maintain this close organic link. In addition, in the field of metal resource
circulation, the importance of lead smelters should be recognized again. For example,
lead smelting acts as an essential destination for copper smelting by-products, such
as smelting dusts. Additionally, printed circuit boards that have been treated in large
quantities in copper smelters contain metal impurities, such as lead and tin in solder
and antimony in flame-retardant auxiliaries. When printed circuit boards are treated
in copper smelters, these excess impurities may interfere with the copper smelting
process and accumulate in by-products. These impurity metals can be recovered
effectively in lead smelters.
Keywords Non-ferrous smelter · Resource circulation · Recycling · Secondary
raw materials · E-scrap · Waste treatment
Introduction
Non-ferrous smelting industry (copper, lead, zinc smelters) in Japan is making use
of the advantages of having technologies for recovering various minor metals and
precious metals from complex raw materials that are characteristic of non-ferrous
smelter. The social role of smelters is not only smelting and refining of concentrates but also recycling treatments of various secondary raw materials (scraps, solid
E. Shibata (B)
Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, 1,1 Katahira,
2-Chome, Aobaku, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
e-mail: etsuro.shibata.e3@tohoku.ac.jp
© The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society 2020
A. Siegmund et al. (eds.), PbZn 2020: 9th International Symposium
on Lead and Zinc Processing, The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-37070-1_24
285
to Metal Resource Circulation in Japan
Etsuro Shibata
Abstract As contributions of non-ferrous smelters to metal resource circulation,
ores and secondary raw materials, such as scrap and waste, are treated to recover base
metals such as copper, lead, and zinc, as well as other precious and minor metals. One
crucial factor that makes this metal recovery possible is the creation of an organic
link among copper, lead, and zinc smelters. In recent years, the specialization of
non-ferrous smelting companies has been promoted in Japan, and it has become
difficult to maintain this close organic link. In addition, in the field of metal resource
circulation, the importance of lead smelters should be recognized again. For example,
lead smelting acts as an essential destination for copper smelting by-products, such
as smelting dusts. Additionally, printed circuit boards that have been treated in large
quantities in copper smelters contain metal impurities, such as lead and tin in solder
and antimony in flame-retardant auxiliaries. When printed circuit boards are treated
in copper smelters, these excess impurities may interfere with the copper smelting
process and accumulate in by-products. These impurity metals can be recovered
effectively in lead smelters.
Keywords Non-ferrous smelter · Resource circulation · Recycling · Secondary
raw materials · E-scrap · Waste treatment
Introduction
Non-ferrous smelting industry (copper, lead, zinc smelters) in Japan is making use
of the advantages of having technologies for recovering various minor metals and
precious metals from complex raw materials that are characteristic of non-ferrous
smelter. The social role of smelters is not only smelting and refining of concentrates but also recycling treatments of various secondary raw materials (scraps, solid
E. Shibata (B)
Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, 1,1 Katahira,
2-Chome, Aobaku, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
e-mail: etsuro.shibata.e3@tohoku.ac.jp
© The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society 2020
A. Siegmund et al. (eds.), PbZn 2020: 9th International Symposium
on Lead and Zinc Processing, The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-37070-1_24
285