Zinc Material Smelting Process Life Cycle Assessment And Software Systems Research

To reduce the environmental impact of zinc material through the whole life cycle and improve its environmental friendly property and competence, a life cycle assessment on metallurgical process has been conducted, based on the case study of Zhuzhou Smelter and Shaoguan Smelter, which will serves for the cleaner production and environmental protection of zinc metallurgical process in China.Life cycle assessment (LCA) and its application is briefly introduced in this paper. The method to decompose the complex flow-sheet of zinc metallurgy into process model has been proposed, based on which material flow network diagram is drawn and the algorithms of input-output. Eco-indicaton identifying the options of environmental improvement and optimizing process is developed. The strategy to conduct life cycle assessment on zinc metallurgical process is also defined. According to this strategy, the LCA software is developed.A case study on the hydro-metallurgical process of Zhuzhou Smelter and pyro-metallurgical process of Shaoguan Smelter has been conducted, the research results are as follows: 1) Hydro-metallurgical process is preceding over pyro-metallurgical process in GWP and inferior to pyro- metallurgical process in GER and ACP. There is no serious difference in other impact indices. 2) To compare with foreign advanced zinc metallurgical process. GWP, ACP and HME of zinc metallurgical process in China are much higher though GWP and SWB has no much difference. 3) Electrolysis and solid waste treatment are the key sub-process to improve for hydro-metallurgical process of Zhuzhou Smelter and imperial smelting, on-site heat and electricity as well as sintering are main sub-process to improve for pyro-metallurgical process of Shaoguan Smelter.On the basis of LCA, the way on environmental improvement and cleaner production such as to regulate the structure of raw material and energy source of Shaoguan Smelter, actualize SOj zero emission and adjust the material of Waelz rotary furnace is put forward.