Thanks to its unique metallurgical flowsheet, Umicore Precious Metals Refining processes a broad range of complex precious metals, lead, copper and nickel bearing materials from a variety of worldwide sources.
Umicore Precious Metals Refining is one of the world's major processors of by-products from the non-ferrous industry. Among others, these industrial by-products include: dross, PM-containing slag, matte, flue dust, hydrometallurgical residue, filter cake, tankhouse slimes and copper cement.
Umicore Precious Metals Refining has the capability to comply with new sources of precious metals bearing materials. We process by-products from:
Zinc industry
Umicore Precious Metals Refining offers valuable recovery services to the zinc industry. Typically, primary the zinc industry is concentrating their valuable ‘minor-metals’ such as Ag, Pb and Cu into saleable by-products. These by-products from the zinc industry are globally sourced by Umicore to recover the valuable metals.
Typical products from the zinc industry are:
- leadsulphate: a product containing important amounts of Pb and Ag
- copper cement: acting as the outlet for Cu from a Zn-refinery flowsheet
- silver concentrate: this material can be generated to valorise the Ag contained in a Zn-plant
- drosses and skimmings: originating from the remelting of anodes in a Zn-plant