Integrated recycling of non-ferrous metals at Boliden Ltd. Ronnskar smelter

The Ronnskar smelter has a wide experience in the field of recycling of non-ferrous metals. Today smelting and refining from primary and secondary raw materials are integrated in a complex flow sheet. Boliden operates a lead flash smelter, a lead refinery, a copper smelter and refinery, a sulphuric acid and sulphur dioxide plant, a slag fuming plant and precious metal plant at its Ronnskar smelter in the North of Sweden. The Business Area Smelter Operations also incorporates Boliden Bergsole, Sweden's car battery recycler and Norzink, Norway, where recycled zinc stands for more than 20% of it's production. Raw materials for the Ronnskar smelter include concentrates, ashes, slags, metallic scrap, electronic scrap, and steel making dust. The paper shortly describes current operations. Limits to recycling as experienced by a nonferrous smelter are discussed. The destinations of critical elements contained in raw materials are discussed.