Mr Justen Bremmell pours molten slag and alloy from CSIRO's bath smelting facility. Red hot molten slag material pours down a ramp out of the furnace and sparks fly. Mr Bremmell is protected by a full face visor and hard hat, and leather jacket gloves and apron.

Mr Justen Bremmell pours molten slag and alloy from a bath smelting facility.

High temperature processing

High temperature processing is used to produce metals and advanced materials, and is also used to treat industrial by-products.

  • 11 March 2010 | Updated 24 September 2012
  1. Overview
  2. Smelting and roasting chemistry
  3. Electrochemistry
  4. Processing of biomass
  5. Key contacts

Overview

Page 1 of 5

The use of high temperatures to extract minerals from ores has long been the backbone of metal production.

High temperature processes are used to produce a range of metals including:

  • steel
  • aluminium, titanium
  • copper, nickel, zinc, lead
  • platinum, tantalum, tin.

High temperature processes are also used in advanced materials processing and in the treatment of industrial by-products.

Our research teams are able to develop new and optimise existing high temperature metallurgical processes.

Modern smelting tends to be highly intensive and requires flexibility; stringent dynamic control is essential.

Our research teams are able to develop new and optimise existing high temperature metallurgical processes.

The team offers a range of expertise including:

  • smelting and roasting chemistry
  • electrochemistry of molten salts and ionic liquids
  • processing biomass for metallurgical applications.

High temperature processing is proving a key technology in advancing today's drive for sustainable processing within the minerals industry. 

Our expertise is being applied in a number of projects that aim to:

  • reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions in mineral processing
  • reduce water use in mineral processing
  • manage minor toxic elements
  • recover values through by-product processing.