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Byline: Peter Balaz, Erika Godocikova, Laszlo Takacs, Eberhard Gock The mechanochemical reduction of stibnite (Sb2S3), copper sulphide (Cu2S), galena (PbS) and auripigment (As2S3) with elemental Fe has been studied. Metallic Sb, Cu and Pb are obtained due to the reducing power of iron. The metal/sulphide nanocomposite particles have been characterised by XRD, SEM and TEM methods. The reduction processes are very straightforward and fast and can be carried out at ambient temperature.

In the context of a cooperation project a process for the acid dezincification, the so-called bypass predezincification, has been developed to industrial maturity. The process is based on the inhibitory effect of wash- and draw oils. These protective oils are preventing the leaching of iron in combination with zinc. The industrial efficiency has been verified by setup and operation of a dezincification pilot plant with a nominal throughput of 24 t d-1. The current throughput could be increased to 100 t d-1. A dezincification grade up to 99 % could be obtained for electroplated and hot dipped scrap sheets as well as mixtures of both. In comparison to the common dezincification process route energy saving by the factor of 50 and a CO2 reduction by a factor of 40 is achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]