Modeling and Simulation of the Production of Lead and Elementary Sulphur from Lead Sulphide Concentrates

Lead sulphide (Galena) is the most important mineral lead compound. In this paper a new process for lead recovery is modeled, Flubor (R) (Olper and Fracchia, 1991, Olper 1995), based on leaching and electrolysis that is environmental friendly and solve the problems of high capital investment and operating costs. Being modular, it can be strongly attractive, for small and medium capacities, mainly for locations or countries where small-medium size mines are present. The model involves several unit operations necessary for the separation of a broad range of impurities. Multiphase streams are treated, involving liquid, gases and solids. A "sequential modular approach" is used with iterative calculations for solving the problem of recycle loops. The model well reproduces the performances of a flexible, large-scale demonstrative plant. It can be also of support for control and as operator training simulator (OTS).