| Scope |
The Lead – Zinc 2020 symposium builds on the successes of the original 1970 meeting, the subsequent conferences held in 1980, 1990, 2000 and 2010, the Zinc – Lead symposia in Japan organized by MMIJ in 1995 and 2005, the Lead-Zinc conference in Germany by GDMB in 2015, as well as the Canadian Lead – Zinc conferences organized by MetSoc in 1998 and 2008. It will provide an international forum for the lead and zinc processing industries bringing together operators, engineers and researchers to exchange information about all aspects of current processing technologies for primary and secondary lead and zinc, as well as emerging technologies for both metals. The symposium scope extends from process fundamentals to operational practices, and also includes the important aspect of environmental issues. At the operations level, comprehensive reviews of the major applications of both metals are outlined. Emphasis will be placed on recent commercial developments with less energy intensive technologies which are in harmony with environmental conservation. At the research level, the emphasis is placed on the better understanding of existing technologies and the development of new processing concepts. Environmental concerns, associated with the processing of both metals, are considered along with acceptable treatment and handling of by-products, wastes and bleed streams by the industry. A highlight of the conference will be a series of plenary lectures by industry leaders. Various social events are scheduled, and these will allow informal discussions and networking among the delegates. After the symposium, industrial tours are planned to various North American lead and zinc processing operations.
Topics to be discussed at the symposium include:
* Global factors affecting the production of zinc and lead including the economic aspects of the industries, product development and marketing endeavors, and environmental and health issues,
* Surveys of existing smelters and refineries for primary and secondary lead and zinc production,
* Zinc production technology (roast-leach-electrowinning route including iron control, pyrometallurgical processes, ISP, slag fuming, Waelz furnace, TBRC and new technologies including direct concentrate leaching and smelting, pyrometallurgical refining and oxide ore processing),
* Lead production technology (pyrometallurgical processes such as the ISP, blast furnace, QSL, KIVCET, SKS-RSKS and TSL, as well as pyrometallurgical refining, electrorefining, slag fuming and new processes),
* Product applications and marketing (galvanization of steel, chemicals, ZnO, lead-acid batteries) and new product development,
* Recycling technologies and product life cycle issues (e.g. electric arc furnace dust treatment and direct de-zincing, secondary lead processing), and
* Fundamental research and basic studies related to new Pb and Zn processes and to the understanding and basic theories of Pb and Zn processing. |