Extractive Metallurgy of Copper, Sixth Edition, expands on previous editions, including sections on orogenesis and copper mineralogy and new processes for efficiently recovering copper from ever-declining Cu-grade mineral deposits. The book evaluates processes for maintaining concentrate Cu grades from lower grade ores. Sections cover the recovery of critical byproducts (e.g., cesium), worker health and safety, automation as a safety tool, and the geopolitical forces that have moved copper metal production to Asia (especially China) and new smelting and refining processes. Indigenous Asian smelting processes are evaluated, along with energy and water requirements, environmental performance, copper electrorefining processes, and sulfur dioxide capture processes (e.g., WSA). The book puts special emphasis on the benefits of recycling copper scrap in terms of energy and water requirements. Comparisons of ore-to-product and scrap-to-product carbon emissions are also made to illustrate the concepts included.

What makes this book unique is a specific focus on aluminum recovery, rather than just recycling in general. It also offers an integrated discussion of scrap recovery and re-melting operations and includes economic as well as technical elements of recycling. Important topics include a discussion of the scrap aluminum marketplace and how secondary aluminum is collected and sorted, the design and operation of furnaces for melting scrap, the refining of molten aluminum, and the recovery and processing of dross from re-melting operations. This second edition features more information on aluminum scrap pricing and the economics of recycling, the analysis of dross processing methods currently in use by the industry, and drosses produced. The book has been updated throughout to include the most up-to-date information.