The technical-scale realization of the Kivcet Process for lead

CIM Bulletin, Vol. 73, No. 817, 1980

KIRAN B. CHAUDHURI and MICHAEL KOCH, KHD Humboldt Wedag AG Federal Republic of Germany, JORG LEMA RATING, Empresa National de Fundiciones, La Paz, Bolivia

Stricter pollution regulations together with other factors have stimulated interest in the modernization of the traditional sinter - blast-furnace lead operation. In this context, direct smelting methods have again come into prominence. Consequently, the Kivcet Lead Smelting Process, which belongs to this group, has attracted the attention of the lead producers of the world.The Kivcet Process offers the advantage that lead and zinc can be simultaneously recovered in a single furnace unit. KHD Humboldt Wedag AG, Koln, Federal Republic of Germany, has signed a contract with the Sociedad Complejo Metalurgico de Karachipampa of Bolivia for the delivery of a turn-key Kivcet plant, which is expected to be the first plant of its kind in commercial operation. This paper describes the design and expected operating data of the plant.

Keywords: Pyrometallurgy, Non-ferrous pyrometallurgy, Lead smelting, Kivcet process, Direct smelting, Zinc recovery, Charge preparation, Smelting costs.