Acta Montanistica Slovaca Ročník 18(2013), číslo 3, 158-163 158 Variation of the content of accompanying elements in galena in pyrometallurgical process of zinc and lead production Zdzisław Adamczyk 1 , Katarzyna Nowińska 2 , Edyta Melaniuk-Wolny 3 and Janusz Szewczenko 4 Concentrates of zinc and lead are primary raw materials in the pyrometallurgical process (Imperial Smelting Process) of lead and zinc production. During the studies it was found that Zn (sphalerite) and Pb (galena) sulphides were the main minerals in the raw material. The examined samples, taken from particular technological sections showed presence of galena. After detailed chemical studies it was found that this mineral showed high variation of concentration of accompanying elements, such as: Ca, Mn, Cu, As, Se, Ag, Cd, Sn, Sb. The results of these studies may make, in addition to providing a better understanding of accompanying elements circulation in the ISP technological process, a valuable contribution to the identification of the forms of occurrence of the accompanying elements in the various technological wastes. The form of elements occurrence in wastes is the basic factor in the development of optimal metals recovery method. Keywords: Imperial Smelting Process, pyrometallurgical process, zinc, lead, galena, accompanying elements Introduction The growing interest in the winning of accompanying elements in the pyrometallurgical production of zinc and lead creates the need to identify the forms in which these elements occur at the various stages of the process. This is dictated by both environmental as well as economic requirements. The identification of these forms includes detailed examination of mineral components present in the raw material, in the dust and in waste products (Pozzi M., Nowińska K., 2006). The aim of this study was to demonstrate the diversity of the content of accompanying elements in galena derived from galena concentrate (the raw material) and from dusts generated at the various stages of the pyrometallurgical production process of zinc and lead. These dusts are recycled in the process and included in the raw material charge (Zinc and Lead Production Process in “Miasteczko Śląskie” Zinc Smelting Plant, 2000). Experimental setup and procedure Test samples were taken from the charge mixture for the sinter plant (Raw Materials Store 1) and from dusts from the various process stages, including dust from fabric filters in the sinter plant (FT12- sample PR2 and FT 24- sample PR3), dust from the grinding mill in the sinter plant (FT12R- sample PR5) and from the lead refinery (FT10-sample PR7). Samples were used to make specimens for investigating the chemical composition within micro-areas using an X-ray microanalyser. The chemical composition (qualitative and quantitative) of the separate grains was determined by means of a Joel JCXA 733 X-ray microanalyser. The microanalyser was equipped with an ISIS 300 energy-dispersive spectrometer from Oxford Instruments (Sokołowski J., Nosiła M., Pluta B., 1980; Szummer A., 1994) and the measurements were performed under the following conditions: focused beam (diameter: 1-2 µm, accelerating voltage 20 kV, current 3·10 -9 A). A series of microanalyses was conducted for each of the grains studied, such series comprising up to ten chemical composition measurements carried out to determine the main chemical components (sulphur and lead) and accompanying elements (the remaining elements). The average of 10 measurements was taken as the final result. 1 DS.c Zdzisław Adamczyk, Institute of Applied Geology, Faculty of Mining and Geology, Silesian University of Technology, tel. +48 32 237 13 07Akademicka 2, 44 -100 Gliwice , Poland, zdzislaw.adamczyk@polsl.pl 2 Ing. Katarzyna Nowińska, PhD, Institute of Applied Geology, Faculty of Mining and Geology, Silesian University of Technology, tel. +48 32 237 19 24, Akademicka 2, 44 -100 Gliwice, Poland, katarzyna.nowinska@polsl.pl 3 Ing. Edyta Melaniuk-Wolny, PhD, Department of Air Protection, Faculty of Power and Environmental Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, tel. +48 32 237 19 93, Konarskiego 18, 44 - 100 Gliwice, Poland, edyta.melaniuk-wolny@polsl.pl 4 Ing. Janusz Szewczenko, PhD, Biomechatronics Department, Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, tel. +48 32 237 29 54, Gen. de Gaulle`a 6, 41-800 Zabrze, Poland, janusz.szewczenko@polsl.pl