Optimized Slag Design for Maximum Metal Recovery during the Pyrometallurgical Processing of Polymetallic Deep‐Sea Nodules

Review on Tungsten Recovery and Sustainable Practices

“…This process involves the reduction of iron alloys during the procedure, which spontaneously collects other valuable metals. Selective carbothermic reduction has a well-established history in pyrometallurgical industries for extracting valuable metals from resources with complex mineralogy, such as nickeliferous limonitic laterite ores, waste smelter slag, nickel alloy scrap, and polymetallic nodules, as referenced in (Zhiming et al, 1987;Pickles et al,2014;Banda et al,2002;Friedmann et al,2017;Su et al,2020;Zhao et al,2019) Tungsten residues, rich in iron content, are suitable candidates for producing alloyed white cast iron. The recovery of tungsten into white cast iron is desirable as the presence of tungsten enhances its machinability.…”

“…Nevertheless, given the similarities in the general reduction approach, existing reduction technologies can potentially be adapted for processing tungsten residues. An interesting parallel to this approach is the study of selectively carbothermic reduction on polymetallic nodules, as mentioned in (Friedmann et al,2017 ;Sommerfeld et al, 2018)Polymetallic nodules share a complex mineralogy similar to that of tungsten residues. By controlling the reduction order of metal oxides, it becomes possible to extract valuable metals, such as iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), and cobalt (Co), as Fe-Ni-Cu-Co alloys.…”