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IPC Subclass
C22B

PRODUCTION OR REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS

Introduced: September 1968

Classification Context

Section:
CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
Class:
METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
Subclass:
PRODUCTION OR REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS

Description

C22B encompasses the extraction, production, and refining of metals from raw materials, including pretreatment processes such as ore beneficiation, roasting, and calcination. This subclass covers pyrometallurgical, hydrometallurgical, and electrometallurgical methods for obtaining both ferrous and non-ferrous metals, as well as their purification and recovery from scrap or secondary sources. Typical technologies include smelting furnaces, leaching processes, electrolytic refining, and waste treatment for metal recovery. Related alloy production and thermal treatment of metals are classified separately under C22C and C22F respectively.

Scope Notes

Glossary: Carburising darburising Treatment of a metal with an externally supplied source of carbon resulting in the chemical reaction or diffusion of the carbon into the metal. Decarburisation decarburization Treatment of a metal to remove carbon therefrom. Hydrometallurgy A generic term for processes involving solution in water or other liquid in which metalliferous material or metal is treated to prepare metal, to purify or to refine metal, or to prepare intermediate materials more suitable for use in preparing metal (e.g. extracting, leaching, beneficiating, etc.). Leaching Extraction by dissolving soluble constituents from insoluble materials. Either the extracted solution or the insoluble material may contain the desired metalliferous material from which metal is obtained. Pyrometallurgy A generic term for processes carried out at relatively high temperatures, usually in furnaces, in which metalliferous material or metal is treated to prepare metal, to purify or to refine free metal, or to prepare intermediate materials more suitable for use in preparing metal (e.g. smelting, roasting of ores, etc.). Reducing Changing from a higher to a lower oxidation state such as, for example, from the ferric to the ferrous state, viz.: Fe 3+ + e - → Fe 2+ or to the elemental state. Refining Purification of metal by removal of impurities therefrom. Roasting The treatment of an ore or concentrate with heat and causing partial or full oxidation of the reactive species present in the ore or concentrate to facilitate metal extraction. Slag slags A vitreous mass that separates from fused metals during smelting or refining of metalliferous material. Smelting Treatment of metalliferous material, typically a metal sulfide ore or concentrate, with sufficient heat to cause melting of the sulfide mineral(s) in the ore or concentrate such that a molten metal sulfide phase is formed. | Limiting references: Working metallic powder; manufacture of articles from metallic powder; making metallic powder or suspensions thereof Flotation of ores Processing of pig iron, e.g. refining, manufacture of wrought iron or steel; producing sponge iron by direct reduction , Electrolytic production or refining of metals

Related Keywords

obtaining METAL COMPOUNDS by metallurgical methodsproducing compounds of NON-FERROUS metals by metallurgical processesproducing or refining NON-FERROUS metalstreating ORES to obtain other metals, alloys or compoundsREFINING of non-ferrous metalsSCORIFIERSSMELTINGSPEISSESsmelting STOVES

25 direct subcodes

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