Resource Efficiency Evaluation of Pyrometallurgical Solutions …
363
and the resource consumption and CO 2 emissions increases. Ten different configurations of pyrometallurgical flowsheets combined with the traditional hydrometallurgical zinc production route have been evaluated to find the most resource efficient
and environmentally friendly alternative. This alternative is the pyrometallurgical
treatment of jarosite through smelting and reduction stages. As this solution requires
high temperatures and reducing agents, its resource consumption and CO 2 emissions
increase. This supposes a trade-off between the positive effect on society, because of
the lower ponding volume required, and the impact on economics and environment,
which will be larger than the current RLE process for the zinc production. However,
the quantified economic, through thermoeconomics, and environmental impacts are
close to the best scenario.
This simulation-based approach can be extrapolated to other metallurgical processes to evaluate their resource efficiency from a systemic perspective. The process
simulation platform provides a good view of the resources consumed, produced, lost,
or exchanged within the system. Additionally, as mass, energy and exergy balances
are performed by the simulation platform, it can predict and show all material recoveries and losses, generation of residues, resource consumption, and environmental
impacts. On this basis, different options to move the system towards a more resource
efficient and circular scenario can be assessed and selected. This systemic approach
can be also used to inform society and policy makers about the best possible way to
achieve circularity, at the same time that a good perspective to discuss the possible
trade-offs between society, environment, and economics is provided.
Acknowledgements This research has received funding from the European Commission’s
H2020—Marie Sklodowska-Curie actions (MSCA)—Innovative training Networks within
SOCRATES (Website: http://etn-socrates.eu) project under the grant agreement no. 721385. This
work reflects only the author’s view, exempting the Community from any liability.
References
1. Reuter MA, van Schaik A, Gutzmer J, Bartie N, Abadías Llamas A (2019) Challenges of
the circular economy—a metallurgical and product design perspective. Annu Rev Mater Res
49:10.1–10.22
2. Sinclair RJ (2005) The extractive metallurgy of zinc, vol 13. The Australasian Institute of
Mining and Metallurgy, Melbourne
3. Hoang J, Reuter MA, Matusewicz R, Hughes S, Piret N (2009) Top submerged lance direct
zinc smelting. Miner Eng 22(9–10):742–751
4. Wood J, Coveney J, Helin G, Xu L, Xincheng S (2015) The Outotec® direct zinc smelting
process. Proc Pb-Zn 2015(2):537–548
5. Creedy S, Glinin A, Matusewicz R, Hughes S, Reuter MA (2013) Outotec® Ausmelt
technology for treating zinc residues. World Metall ERZMETALL 66(4):230–235
6. Rämä M, Nurmi S, Jokilaakso A, Klemettinen L, Taskinen P, Salminen J (2018) Thermal
processing of jarosite leach residue for a safe disposable slag and valuable metals recovery.
Metals (Basel) 8(10):744
7. Abadías Llamas A et al (2019) Simulation-based exergy, thermo-economic and environmental
footprint analysis of primary copper production. Miner Eng 131:51–65
363
and the resource consumption and CO 2 emissions increases. Ten different configurations of pyrometallurgical flowsheets combined with the traditional hydrometallurgical zinc production route have been evaluated to find the most resource efficient
and environmentally friendly alternative. This alternative is the pyrometallurgical
treatment of jarosite through smelting and reduction stages. As this solution requires
high temperatures and reducing agents, its resource consumption and CO 2 emissions
increase. This supposes a trade-off between the positive effect on society, because of
the lower ponding volume required, and the impact on economics and environment,
which will be larger than the current RLE process for the zinc production. However,
the quantified economic, through thermoeconomics, and environmental impacts are
close to the best scenario.
This simulation-based approach can be extrapolated to other metallurgical processes to evaluate their resource efficiency from a systemic perspective. The process
simulation platform provides a good view of the resources consumed, produced, lost,
or exchanged within the system. Additionally, as mass, energy and exergy balances
are performed by the simulation platform, it can predict and show all material recoveries and losses, generation of residues, resource consumption, and environmental
impacts. On this basis, different options to move the system towards a more resource
efficient and circular scenario can be assessed and selected. This systemic approach
can be also used to inform society and policy makers about the best possible way to
achieve circularity, at the same time that a good perspective to discuss the possible
trade-offs between society, environment, and economics is provided.
Acknowledgements This research has received funding from the European Commission’s
H2020—Marie Sklodowska-Curie actions (MSCA)—Innovative training Networks within
SOCRATES (Website: http://etn-socrates.eu) project under the grant agreement no. 721385. This
work reflects only the author’s view, exempting the Community from any liability.
References
1. Reuter MA, van Schaik A, Gutzmer J, Bartie N, Abadías Llamas A (2019) Challenges of
the circular economy—a metallurgical and product design perspective. Annu Rev Mater Res
49:10.1–10.22
2. Sinclair RJ (2005) The extractive metallurgy of zinc, vol 13. The Australasian Institute of
Mining and Metallurgy, Melbourne
3. Hoang J, Reuter MA, Matusewicz R, Hughes S, Piret N (2009) Top submerged lance direct
zinc smelting. Miner Eng 22(9–10):742–751
4. Wood J, Coveney J, Helin G, Xu L, Xincheng S (2015) The Outotec® direct zinc smelting
process. Proc Pb-Zn 2015(2):537–548
5. Creedy S, Glinin A, Matusewicz R, Hughes S, Reuter MA (2013) Outotec® Ausmelt
technology for treating zinc residues. World Metall ERZMETALL 66(4):230–235
6. Rämä M, Nurmi S, Jokilaakso A, Klemettinen L, Taskinen P, Salminen J (2018) Thermal
processing of jarosite leach residue for a safe disposable slag and valuable metals recovery.
Metals (Basel) 8(10):744
7. Abadías Llamas A et al (2019) Simulation-based exergy, thermo-economic and environmental
footprint analysis of primary copper production. Miner Eng 131:51–65