Amasu Okucwenga Insimbi kanye Nezicelo Zawo
Ukucwenga insimbi uchungechunge lwezinqubo zensimbi ezihlose ukwandisa ubumsulwa bensimbi ezintweni zayo zokusetshenziswa—kungakhathaliseki ukuthi i-ore, i-concentrate, noma inqubo yokuqala yokuncibilikisa (insimbi engahluziwe). Emisebenzini yezimboni, ukucwenga kudlulela ngale nje "kokwenza insimbi ibe msulwa," kodwa futhi kuhilela ukunciphisa amazinga okungcola okuthile ukuze kuhlangatshezwane nezindinganiso ezidingekayo ekusetshenzisweni okuthile. Ithusi lezintambo zikagesi, isibonelo, lidinga ubumsulwa obuphezulu ukuze kube nokuqhuba kahle. Okwamanje, insimbi ye-alloy yokwakha ingabekezelela ukwakheka okuthile inqobo nje uma izakhiwo zayo zemishini zifanelekile. Lesi sihloko sixoxa ngamasu ayinhloko okucwenga insimbi kanye nezibonelo zokusetshenziswa kwawo emikhakheni ehlukahlukene.
Kungani ukucwengisisa insimbi kubalulekile?
Ukungcola kwezinsimbi kungathinta kakhulu izakhiwo zomzimba nezamakhemikhali, njengokuqhuba kukagesi/ukushisa, ukumelana nokugqwala, amandla okudonseka, ukuguquguquka, kanye nokuziphatha kokushisela noma ukusakaza. Ngisho namanani amancane kakhulu okungcola angabangela ukukhubazeka komkhiqizo, njengokuphuka emazingeni okushisa athile, ukuthambekela ekuqhekekeni, noma ukuncipha kokumelana nokushiswa kwe-oxidation. Ngakho-ke, ukucwengisisa insimbi kuyisinyathelo esibalulekile ochungechungeni lokukhiqiza—kusukela ekumbeni nasekucutshungulweni kwamaminerali kuya ekuncibilikiseni nasekukhiqizweni.
Ngaphandle kokusebenza kahle, ukucwenga kuhilela nezinkinga zokuphepha kanye nezemvelo. Ukungcola okufana nesibabule, i-phosphorus, i-arsenic, noma i-lead kungathinta ukukhishwa kwenqubo kanye nemfucuza, okudinga ukulawulwa ukuze kulandelwe imithethonqubo.
1) Ukucwengisiswa kwe-pyrometallurgical (okusekelwe ekushiseni okuphezulu)
I-Pyrometallurgy isebenzisa amazinga okushisa aphezulu ukuze i-oxidize, i-vaporize, noma ihlukanise ukungcola ngokusebenzisa ukusabela okune-fluxes kanye ne-slag. Ukuhluzwa kwe-Pyrometallurgical ngokuvamile kwenzeka ngemva kwenqubo yokuqala yokuncibilikisa.
a. Ukushiswa okukhethayo kanye nokucwengisiswa nge-slag
Kule ndlela, ukungcola okukwazi ukungcoliswa kalula kunensimbi eyisisekelo kuguqulwa kube ama-oxide bese kubanjwa yi-slag. Ukwengezwa kwe-flux (njenge-lime/i-limestone ukuze kwakheke i-CaO) kusiza ukubopha ukungcola kwe-oxide kube yi-slag engahlukaniswa nensimbi encibilikisiwe.
Izibonelo zohlelo lokusebenza:
– Ukwenza Insimbi: Izinqubo eziyisisekelo ezifana ne-Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) zixuba ikhabhoni, i-silicon, i-manganese, i-phosphorus, kanye nesibabule esithile. I-alkaline slag isiza ukubopha i-phosphorus, yehlise okuqukethwe kwayo.
– Ukucwenga ithusi: Esigabeni “sokucwenga umlilo”, umoya-mpilo uyapheshulwa ukuze kungcoliswe ukungcola okuthile, bese kwenziwa “ukupholisha” (ukunciphisa ukukhanya) ukuze okuqukethwe umoya-mpilo ethusini kungabi ngokweqile.
b. Ukuhluzwa kanye nokuguquguquka (ukuhwamuka)
Ezinye izinsimbi noma ukungcola kunezindawo zokubilisa eziphansi kakhulu ngakho-ke zingahlukaniswa ngokusekelwe ekuhlukeni kokuguquguquka. Le ndlela ifanele izinsimbi ezifana ne-zinc (Zn) noma i-mercury (Hg), kanye nokususa ukungcola okuguquguqukayo.
Izibonelo zohlelo lokusebenza:
– Ukuhlanzwa kwe-zinc: Eminye imizila yokukhiqiza i-zinc isebenzisa ukuhluzwa ukuze kwandiswe ubumsulwa be-zinc encibilikisiwe.
– Ukususwa kokungcola okuguquguqukayo: Kwezinye izinqubo, ukungcola okufana ne-cadmium kungahlukaniswa ngoba kuguquguqukayo kakhulu kunensimbi eyinhloko.
Izinzuzo ze-pyrometallurgy zifaka phakathi amazinga aphezulu okukhiqiza kanye nokufaneleka kwayo ekucutshungulweni okukhulu. Kodwa-ke, ukubi kwayo kuhlanganisa izidingo zamandla aphezulu kanye nethuba lokukhishwa kwegesi (isb., i-SO₂) uma ingaphathwa ngohlelo lokulawula.
2) Ukucwengisiswa kwe-hydrometallurgical (okusekelwe kwisisombululo)
I-Hydrometallurgy isebenzisa ukusabela kwamakhemikhali esigabeni sesisombululo, ngokuvamile ngezigaba ezintathu eziyinhloko: ukuhlanzwa, ukuhlukaniswa/ukuhlanzwa kwesisombululo, kanye nokubuyiselwa kwensimbi njengokwehliswa kwemvula noma ukuwina ngogesi.
a. Ukuhlanzwa nokuhlanzwa kwezixazululo
I-ore noma i-concentrate iyancibilika kusetshenziswa i-acid, isisekelo, noma i-complexing agent. Isixazululo sibe sesihlanzwa ekungcoleni kusetshenziswa amasu anjengokuchelela okukhethayo, ukushintshaniswa kwama-ion, noma ukukhipha i-solvent.
Izibonelo zohlelo lokusebenza:
– I-Nickel ne-cobalt: Izinqubo eziningi zesimanje zicubungula i-laterite noma i-sulfide ngokuyikhipha, bese zihlanza ikhambi lokuhlukanisa i-Ni ne-Co.
– Igolide: Enqubweni yokuxuba i-cyanidation, igolide liyancibilika njenge-complex, bese lihlukaniswa nesisombululo kusetshenziswa i-activated carbon adsorption kanye nezinyathelo ezengeziwe.
b. Ukukhishwa kwe-solvent (SX)
I-SX isebenzisa umehluko ekuhlanganiseni kwama-ion ensimbi kwezinye izinyibilikisi eziphilayo, ukuze insimbi eqondiwe "ikwazi ukususwa" isuka esigabeni samanzi iye esigabeni sezinto eziphilayo, bese ibuyiselwa (ihlutshulwe) esixazululweni esihlanzekile.
Izibonelo zohlelo lokusebenza:
– Ithusi (SX-EW): Isixazululo sokuhlanzwa sihlanzwa nge-SX, bese ithusi likhishwa ngokuthola i-electrowinning ukuze libe yi-cathode yethusi esezingeni eliphezulu.
I-hydrometallurgy ibhekwa njengeguquguqukayo futhi ivame ukukhiqiza ubumsulwa obukhulu, kodwa idinga ukulawulwa kwamakhemikhali ngokucophelela kanye nokuphathwa kahle kwamanzi amdaka.
3) Ukuhluzwa kwe-electrolytic (ukulungiswa kwe-electro kanye nokuwina i-electro)
Ukuhluzwa kwe-electrolytic kuyindlela ebalulekile yokukhiqiza izinsimbi ezihlanzekile kakhulu. Isimiso ukusebenzisa ugesi ukuncibilikisa insimbi kusuka ku-anode bese uyibeka kabusha ku-cathode.
a. Ukuhlanza ngogesi
I-anode iyinsimbi engcolile, i-cathode iyishidi elincane lensimbi emsulwa, kanti i-electrolyte iyisisombululo sikasawoti wensimbi. Insimbi emsulwa ingena ku-cathode, kuyilapho ukungcola okuthile kuwa njenge-anode kushintsha noma kuhlala kuncibilikile.
Izibonelo zohlelo lokusebenza:
– Ithusi: Ikhiqiza ama-cathode ethusi ahlanzekile kakhulu (ngokuvamile asetshenziswa njengeziqhubi zikagesi). Izinsimbi eziyigugu njengesiliva negolide zivame ukugxila ku-anode slime ukuze kuqhutshekwe nokucutshungulwa.
– I-Nickel: I-Electrorefining ikhiqiza i-nickel esezingeni eliphezulu yokusetshenziswa kwe-alloy kanye ne-plating.
b. Ukuwina ngogesi
Ngokungafani nokuhlanza ngogesi, i-electrowinning ikhipha insimbi ngqo esixazululweni sokuhlanza/sokuhlanza, hhayi ku-anode yensimbi eluhlaza.
Izibonelo zohlelo lokusebenza:
– Ithusi le-SX-EW, i-zinc, nezinye izinsimbi eziningana: zisetshenziswa kabanzi ngoba zingakhiqiza imikhiqizo ye-cathode emsulwa kakhulu.
Izinzuzo zenqubo ye-electrolytic ubumsulwa obuphezulu kanye nokulawula okuhle kokwakheka, kodwa ukutshalwa kwezimali kagesi kanye nesidingo se-electrolyte ezinzile kuyizinto ezibalulekile.
4) Ukuhlanzwa okukhethekile kobumsulwa obuphezulu kakhulu
Ngezinhloso ze-elekthronikhi, ze-optics, noma zocwaningo, ubumsulwa bensimbi bungafinyelela ku-99,99% (4N) noma ngaphezulu. Yilapho kusetshenziswa khona amasu akhethekile.
a. Ukuhluzwa kwendawo
Insimbi incibilikiswa endaweni ethile endaweni encane ehamba eceleni kwebha. Ukungcola kuvame ukuncibilika kangcono esigabeni soketshezi kunasesiqinileni, ngakho-ke kuyacindezelwa ekuhambeni kwendawo yokuncibilika bese kuqoqwa ekugcineni kwebha, bese kunqunywa.
Izibonelo zohlelo lokusebenza:
– I-Silicon, i-germanium, i-gallium: ibaluleke kakhulu embonini ye-semiconductor.
b. Ukuhluzwa kwe-vacuum
Uma umfutho uphansi, ukungcola okuguquguqukayo kuyanyamalala kalula. Le ndlela iyasebenza ekunciphiseni amagesi ancibilikisiwe (i-hydrogen, i-nitrogen) noma ukungcola okuguquguqukayo.
Izibonelo zohlelo lokusebenza:
– Izinsimbi ezikhethekile kanye nama-super alloys: ukususa igesi nge-vacuum kwandisa ukuqina futhi kunciphisa ukubhoboka.
– I-Titanium ne-zirconium: kwezinye izigaba, ukulawulwa komoya kubalulekile ngenxa yokusabela kwazo okuphezulu ku-oxygen ne-nitrogen.
5) Ukusetshenziswa kwemiphumela yokucwenga insimbi emikhakheni ehlukahlukene
a. Ugesi kanye nezinto zikagesi
Izinsimbi ezihlanzekile kakhulu njengethusi ne-aluminium zisetshenziswa ezintanjeni, ezibhajini, nasezingxenyeni zomqhubi. Ukuhlanzeka okuphezulu kuyadingeka ukuze kulahlekelwe amandla aphansi kanye nokukhiqizwa kokushisa okuncane. Kuma-elekthronikhi, izinsimbi ezihlanzekile kakhulu kanye nama-semiconductor asekela ukusebenza kwama-transistors, ama-sensor, nama-chips.
b. Ezokuthutha kanye nokwakhiwa
Kuma-alloy ensimbi ne-aluminium, ukucwenga kusiza ukulawula ukungcola okufana ne-sulfur ne-phosphorus, okungabangela ukuphuka. Umphumela uba yinto eqinile, engathwali umthwalo ngendlela enamandla, futhi ethembekile efanelekile kumabhuloho, izakhiwo, imikhumbi, ngisho nozimele bezimoto.
c. Imboni yamakhemikhali namandla
Ama-alloy asekelwe ku-nickel, chromium, kanye ne-molybdenum adinga ukulawulwa okuqinile kokwakheka ukuze amelane nokugqwala kanye namazinga okushisa aphezulu—isibonelo, kuma-reactor amakhemikhali, amapayipi, ama-turbine egesi, kanye nezitshalo zamandla. Ukucwenga kusiza ukuqinisekisa ukuthi ukungcola okusheshisa ukugqwala akudluli imingcele.
d. Ubucwebe kanye nezinsimbi eziyigugu
Igolide, isiliva, neplatinum kuyacwengwa ukuze kufinyelelwe amazinga athile (isibonelo, igolide elingu-24K) noma ukuze kusetshenziswe kuma-alloy obucwebe. Inqubo yokucwenga ivumela futhi ukubuyiswa kwezinsimbi eziyigugu kusuka ezingcoleni zikagesi kanye nodaka lwe-anode.
Isiphetho
Amasu okucwenga insimbi afaka phakathi izindlela ze-pyrometallurgical, hydrometallurgical, kanye ne-electrolytic, kanye nezindlela ezikhethekile ezifana nokucwenga indawo kanye nokucwenga nge-vacuum. Ukukhetha indlela kuncike ohlotsheni lwensimbi, uhlobo lwezinto zokusetshenziswa, uhlobo kanye nokuqukethwe kokungcola, umgomo wobumsulwa, kanye nokucatshangelwa kwezomnotho kanye nezemvelo. Empeleni, imboni ivame ukuhlanganisa amasu amaningana ukuze kufezwe imiphumela emihle kakhulu. Ngokucwenga okufanele, izinsimbi zingahlangabezana nezindinganiso zokusebenza okuphezulu—kusukela ezintanjeni zikagesi kanye nezakhiwo zokwakha kuya ezingxenyeni ze-semiconductor—okuyisisekelo esibalulekile sobuchwepheshe besimanje.
Uma ufisa, ngingaguqula lesi sihloko sibe ngesokufunda kakhulu (ngezinkomba kanye nemidwebo yokugeleza kwenqubo), noma ngigxile ensimbini ethile efana nethusi, i-aluminium, noma i-nickel.
