The feed to the Cockle Creek Imperial Smelting Furnace consists of mixed Pb/Zn con- centrates and lead sulphate-containing elec- trolytic zinc plant residues. Roasting was investigated as a means of desulphurizing the feed to less than 1%. Laboratory studies showed that two process streams were required in which concentrates containing 20% Pb were roasted separately from the leach residues._x000D_
The residues along with fume from the roast- ing and a portion of concentrate were desul- phurized by means of the roast reduction reaction. Conditions were defined to give <1% s in both streams. fluid bed roasting of pellets was investigated as a means of accom- plishing roasting while the roast reduction reaction was carried out using briquettes containing inert material to contain the molten products from the reaction.>