Scientific-Research and Design-Engineering Departments of the Institute
Metallurgy / Laboratory of Physical and Chemical Studies of Metallurgical Processes
Leading researchers:
- Vera Reznichenko, Chief of the Laboratory
- Viktor Piskunov, Chief Researcher, Candidate of Technical Science
- Svetlana Lyapunova, Senior Researcher
- Olga Kotelnikova, Senior Researcher
The major areas of activities are:
- Development and improvement of the technologies of:
- Non-ferrous metals recovery from raw materials by means of pyro- and hydrometallurgical methods;
- Metallurgical wastes treatment.
- Physical-and-chemical studies and simulation of processes:
- Study of the mechanism and kinetics of the pyro- and hydrometallurgical processes of complex raw materials treatment.
- Material composition study and thermal analysis of the materials:
- Development of methods and chemical phase analysis of raw materials and metallurgical products;
- Microscopic research of ore and products of its beneficiation, metallurgical processing;
- X-ray phase analysis of the materials.
The laboratory is equipped with:
- Diffractometer Bruker D8
- Simultaneous thermal analysis unit TGA/DSC 1 ‘Mettler Toledo’
- Microscope OLYMPUS BX51
- Furnace Naberthem HT 10/18
- Laboratory scale reactor IKA LR-2.ST
- Dispergator T65 D ULTRA-TURRAX
- Stone-cutting machines Exotom-150 and Discotom-65
- Cutting Grinding Machine Diccoplan-TS
- Grinding-and-polishing machine Buehler: AvtoMet 300 (EcoMet 300), Struers Labo Force-Mi LaboPol-35, Specimen loading Pixture
- Facing machine Struers R 319B1 Minitom
- Vacuum device СitoVac
- Sample ultrasonic cleaning device (bath) Struers Metason 200HT
- Drier Drybox-2
Several new processes in the field of heavy nonferrous metals pyrometallurgy were developed and industrially implemented:
- Lead smelting method - ‘KIVCET process’;
- Electrothermal method of zinc production;
- Lead refining by centrifuging;
- Lead battery scrap treatment;
- Technology to process complex copper-zinc concentrates.
KIVCET process was firstly industrially implemented in 1986 at lead plant of Ust-Kamenogorsk lead-zinc plant (JSC ‘Kazzinc’). Plant with a capacity of 500 t of charge per day was commissioned.
In 1987, at Portovesme plant (Sardinia Island, Italy) under VNIItsvetmet license and with the participation of our specialists, KIVCET plant with a capacity of 900 t of lead charge per day was constructed and commissioned. At the present time simultaneously with lead concentrates about 60% of oxidized raw materials are processed there.
This KIVCET plant is located in the resort zone and has been working for 15 year and corresponds to strict European standards in the field of environmental protection.
The most advanced and high capacity (120 000 tons of lead per year) KIVCET furnace for processing of zinc residues (up to 75%) and lead concentrates was commissioned in 1997 by Canadian company ‘Cominco’. Over the past period furnace capacity has increased to the values which exceed design figures. The process is controlled by means of Automatic Process Control System and corresponds to all sanitary labor norms and environmental standards completely.
In 2012-2013, Chinese companies, Jiangxi Copper Corp. and Zhuzhou Smelter Co., on the basis of KIVCET technology, launched into industrial operation two lead plants with capacity of 100 and 120 thousand tons of lead per year correspondingly. The projects were carried out under license agreements with VNIItsvetmet institute.
The success of the laboratory results from close cooperation of specialists of various professions, which allows using complex solutions for work implementation, and from good material and technical facilities, including equipped working area, process communications, advanced analytical and technological equipment, instrumentation and software.
Tel. (7232) 503144, 226093
Developed technologies are protected by the patents of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Russia and foreign countries.