Noranda Inc.

J Gerald Bard

Bernard H Morrison

Jacques Pageau

John G Lenz

A process for treating anode slimes originating from copper, lead or nickel electrorefining to recover the precious metals contained therein is disclosed. The process comprises the steps of charging the slimes into a tiltable and rotatable top blown rotary converter (TBRC), smelting the slimes in the TBRC while it is rotated on an axis inclined to the horizontal to form a slag phase and a precious metals containing phase, tilting the TBRC and skimming the slag produced during smelting, and blowing an oxidizing gas onto or into the precious metals containing phase remaining in the TBRC while rotating the same on its axis inclined to the horizontal to remove impurity elements some of which enter a gas phase and some a new slag phase until a precious metals containing bullion suitable to be treated in a parting plant is obtained.

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Brossard, Canada

J Gerald Bard