Topic summary
Pyroprocessing
Pyroprocessing (from Greek Πυρος = fire) is a process in which materials are subjected to high temperatures (typically over 800 °C) in order to bring about a chemical or physical change. Pyroprocessing encompasses ore-roasting, calcination and sintering. Equipment for pyroprocessing includes kilns, electric arc furnaces and reverberatory furnaces.
Solvents are molten salts (e.g. LiCl + KCl or LiF + CaF2) and molten metals (e.g. cadmium, bismuth, magnesium) rather than water and organic compounds. Electrorefining, distillation, and solvent-solvent extraction are common steps.
These processes were pioneered at Argonne National Laboratory with ongoing research in Russia, at CRIEPI in Japan, the Nuclear Research Institute of Řež in Czech Republic, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research in India and KAERI in South Korea.
Cement manufacturing is a common application. The raw material mix (raw meal) is fed to a kiln. As with most industries, pyroprocessing is the most energy-intensive part of the industrial process. The technique is under investigation for use in spent fuel reprocessing.