Conventional treatment methods for complex copper slags originating from zinc smelting are often constrained by high energy consumption, intricate workflows, and low metal recovery efficiencies. To address these challenges, a streamlined, high-efficiency technology based on cyclone electrowinning was developed. This novel process enabled the synergistic leaching of copper, zinc, and indium while selectively extracting copper, effectively obviating the need for solvent extraction and its associated organic pollution risks. This study specifically investigated electrolytic migration behavior of metal ions—predominantly Cu²⁺—during direct cyclone electrowinning of polymetallic leachates. Utilizing a four-stage stepwise depletion protocol, the process yielded cathode copper with a purity exceeding 99.97% and a current efficiency greater than 97.83%. By significantly simplifying the traditional "leaching-purification-electrowinning" circuit, this technology provided a green, cost-effective pathway for the circular utilization of copper resources from complex polymetallic slags.

Non-ferrous metallurgical slags generated during pyrometallurgical smelting of non-ferrous metals cause environmental pollution as a stockpile, but slags also have enormous potentials for waste heat recovery and valuable metal recycling. This paper systematically synthesized common and specific physicochemical characteristics of non-ferrous metallurgical slags. It focused on research progress, core principles, process optimization directions, technical advantages, and application bottlenecks of waste heat recovery technologies for three typical slags (copper slag, ferronickel slag, and lead slag), which were classified into physical methods and chemical methods, and summarized research hotspots and development trends of each technology. Physical methods were centered on synergistic technology of granulation and heat exchange, while chemical methods focused on synergistic recovery of waste heat and resources. Cascaded recovery system integrating the two is the main development direction in the future. This paper provided theoretical reference and technical support for industrial upgrading and green development of waste heat recovery technologies for non-ferrous metallurgical slags.

Multi-phase refractory materials were prepared using copper slag tailings and waste high-alumina bricks. Thermodynamic behavior of copper slag tailings during sintering was studied by XRD and TG-MS. Influence of copper slag tailing and waste high-alumina brick content on mechanical properties and high temperature properties of refractory materials were studied. Microstructure and phase transition process of multi-phase refractory materials were studied by SEM-EDS and XRD. Results showed that decomposition product of iron olivine in copper slag tailings reacted in-situ with alumina in waste high-alumina brick, and finally formed a mullite-corundum composite crystal phase combined with Fe-Al intercrystalline phase. When mass fraction of waste high-alumina brick and copper slag tailing was 40% and 10%, respectively, comprehensive performance of refractory material was the best. Compressive strength was 110.4 MPa, refractoriness under load reached 1 399 ℃, and strength retention rate after thermal shock was more than 80%. Research results provided a new prospective for high-value utilization of copper slag tailings and waste high-alumina bricks which are the main solid waste in copper smelting industry.

Copper smelting slag tailings are solid wastes obtained from flotation depletion of copper slag generated in pyrometallurgical copper smelting. Their massive accumulation produces serious environmental and safety hazards. Forsterite-spinel composite materials were prepared by a high-temperature solid-state sintering method using copper smelting slag tailings as the main raw material, with addition of light-burned magnesia and activated alumina. Effects of sintering temperature on phase composition, microstructure, and physical properties of the materials were systematically investigated. Results showed that the main crystalline phases of sintered samples were forsterite and spinel, while fayalite phase was completely decomposed. As sintering temperature increased, grains of forsterite and spinel gradually grew, and densification degree of the material continuously improved. When sintering temperature was 1 400 ℃, the sample exhibited the best comprehensive performance, with a bulk density of 2.75 g/cm³, an apparent porosity of 24.11%, and a cold compressive strength of 138.5 MPa.

To explore new pathways for utilization of copper tailings and mine waste rocks, these two materials were selected as raw materials to prepare sintered permeable brick. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) techniques were employed to analyze mineral phase structure and chemical composition of tailings and waste rocks. Sintering mechanism was then analyzed. Compression molding method, with waste rocks as aggregates, was chosen to prepare sintered permeable bricks with a high content of tailings. An in-depth exploration was conducted on the effects of four factors, namely firing temperature, holding time, particle size of waste rocks, and content of tailings, on comprehensive performance of the brick. Ideal combination of the factors required further enhancement of mechanical strength while ensuring permeability performance of the brick, achieving a balance between strength and permeability of the brick. Research results indicated that the optimal process parameters were a firing temperature of 1 180 ℃, a holding time of 80 min, a particle size of waste rocks ranging from 2.00 to 3.35 mm (6~10 mesh), and a tailings content of 60%. Permeable brick prepared under this process exhibited a flexural strength of 4.23 MPa and a permeability coefficient of 10.1×10⁻² cm/s, both of which complied with requirements of the national standard GB/T 25993—2023 "permeable paving bricks and permeable paving flags".

In order to explore new pathways for large-scale and value-added utilization of copper tailings, this study utilized copper tailings to prepare anti-corrosion composite plates. Chemical composition, particle size and phase structure of copper tailings were analyzed by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), laser particle size analysis and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Influence of copper tailings addition on bending strength, compressive strength, density, water absorption, and corrosion resistance of anti-corrosion composite plates was investigated. Results indicated that the maximum incorporation level of copper tailings was 30%. At this point, mechanical properties or corrosion resistance of anti-corrosion composite plates did not show a significant decrease, meeting anti-corrosion and load-bearing requirements for floors in hydrometallurgical workshops. This demonstrated the feasibility of using copper tailings to prepare anti-corrosion composite plates, providing a new idea for large-scale and value-added consumption and utilization of copper tailings.

To achieve large-scale and high-value utilization of copper tailings, copper tailings were compounded with mineral powder and fly ash, and then ground by an ultra-fine ball mill with special grinding media to obtain copper-tailings-based ultrafine composite admixtures with specific surface areas of 755 m²/kg and 730 m²/kg, respectively. Basic properties of these admixtures and their effects on workability, mechanical properties and durability of concrete were studied. Results showed that compared with conventional fineness S95 mineral powder, flow ratio of copper-tailings-based ultrafine composite admixtures was slightly lower, but they had higher early activity. 7-day activity index was increased by 10% and 7%, respectively, and 28-day activity index was slightly lower than that of S95 mineral powder. Addition of fly ash can improve flow ratio and 28-day activity index. In C30 grade concrete, copper-tailings-based ultrafine composite admixtures can completely replace original slag powder in mix proportion and further reduce cement dosage by 20 kg. Compressive strength of the concrete showed an increasing trend. Impermeability, chloride ion penetration resistance, carbonation resistance, sulfate resistance and freeze-thaw resistance of the concrete were all improved. This study provided an effective approach and theoretical support for high-value-added resource utilization of copper tailings.

Alkali residue, a solid waste with potential cementitious properties, poses severe environmental risks when piled in a large amount. To enable large-scale utilization of alkali residue, this study partially replaced cement with alkali residue to prepare alkali residue modified cemented backfill. Dynamic impact tests were conducted to investigate mechanical behavior and energy evolution characteristics of alkali residue modified cemented backfill. Results indicated that incorporation of alkali residue altered the mechanical performance and enhanced compressive strength of the backfill. With increasing alkali residue replacement proportion, compressive strength first increased and then decreased, peaking at an alkali residue replacement proportion of 5%. Energy evolution of alkali residue modified backfill can be categorized into three stages: linear elastic stage, plastic yield stage, and instable failure propagation stage. Addition of alkali residue brought elastic strain energy closer to total input energy during the first stage, reduced instances of negative dissipated energy, and rendered the energy curves more physically realistic. As alkali residue content increased, the maximum elastic strain energy initially rose and then declined, reaching its peak at an alkali residue replacement proportion of 5%. These findings demonstrated that alkali residue improved mechanical performance of cemented backfill, thereby providing a theoretical basis for the application of alkali residue in mine backfilling operations.

To address difficulties in separating arsenic (As) from antimony (Sb) and tin (Sn) in arsenic-antimony-tin residue, a thermodynamic analysis of Sb(Ⅲ)-Sn(Ⅳ)-H₂O system was conducted, and pH control window for phase separation was determined to be 9.0~10.3. Accordingly, a two-stage alkaline leaching process consisting of first-stage soda leaching and second-stage alkaline oxidative leaching was proposed for arsenic removal, supplemented by oxidative precipitation of antimony for its recovery. Effects of key parameters on As removal and Sb/Sn separation were systematically investigated, and the optimal conditions for each stage were determined. Under the optimized conditions, As content in the residue decreased from 17.52% to 1.81%, achieving an overall As removal rate of 92.14%, while direct recovery rates of Sb and Sn reached 97.74% and 95.44%, respectively. Mechanistic analysis revealed that during the first-stage leaching, arsenate decomposed to release AsO₄³⁻, while simultaneous hydrolysis of Sb³⁺ and Sn⁴⁺ generated colloidal Sb₂O₃·xH₂O and Sn(OH)₄, which adsorbed and encapsulated arsenic. In the second-stage leaching, H₂O₂ oxidized the colloidal Sb₂O₃·xH₂O to crystalline NaSb(OH)₆ precipitate, disrupting encapsulation structure and enabling further release of arsenic. Phase and valence transformations were verified by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) characterizations. This process enabled selective removal of As and simultaneous enrichment of Sb and Sn.

Resource utilization of modified metallurgical slag, as an important solution for solid waste disposal in metallurgical industry, shows significant potential for application in wastewater purification and treatment. This paper reviewed research progress on enhancing adsorption and catalytic properties of modified metallurgical slag through physical and chemical modification methods, and systematically analyzed the treatment mechanism and efficiency in treating organic pollutants (e.g., aniline, dyes) and inorganic pollutants (e.g., heavy metals, phosphates). The study showed that the modified metallurgical slag can efficiently remove pollutants from water by virtue of its porous structure, abundant active sites and surface chemical properties, realizing the environmental protection goal of 'treating waste with waste'. The technology had advantages such as low cost, high stability and low risk of secondary pollution, providing an innovative solution for the green transformation of water treatment industry and resource recycling. In the future, it is necessary to further optimize the modification process and to explore strategies for synergistic management of multiple pollutants.