Smelting

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-025853",
  "term": "Smelting",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definition": "1. Obtaining a metal from an ore or concentrate by melting the material at high temperatures. Fluxes are added that, in the presence of high temperatures, reduce the metal oxide to metal resulting in a molten layer containing the heavy metal values and form a slag layer containing impurities. Smelting is usually performed in blast furnaces.\n\n2. Processing techniques for the melting of a copper sulfide ore concentrate or calcine charge leading to the formation of separate layers of molten slag, molten copper, and/or copper matte.\n\n3. Chemical reduction of lead compounds to elemental lead or lead alloys through processing in high-temperature (greater than 980 Celsius) furnaces including, but not limited to, blast furnaces, reverberatory furnaces, rotary furnaces, and electric furnaces.",
  "abbreviation": "Metal Oxides",
  "references": [
    "EPA Abandoned Mite Site Characterization and Cleanup Handbook; Appendix A: Acronym List and Glossary of Mining Terms at http://www.epa.gov/superfund/policy/remedy/pdfs/appendix.pdf",
    "40 CFR 60.161 (CFR 2013)",
    "40 CFR 63.542 (CFR 2018)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/smelting/"
}