China Nonferrous Metallurgy

Chlorination roasting represents a critical thermal treatment technology offering distinct advantages in processing complex polymetallic materials. It continues to play a pivotal role in fields such as the comprehensive recovery and utilization of secondary resources, the processing of low-grade refractory ores, and the deep purification of high-purity materials. This paper systematically reviews recent research progress and industrial applications of chlorination roasting technology, highlighting its classification methods, reaction mechanisms, and thermodynamic and kinetic fundamentals. Key process units, including feedstock pretreatment, the roasting process, product recovery, and waste treatment, are thoroughly discussed. Furthermore, by reviewing numerous relevant studies, this paper demonstrates the significant merits of this technology in efficiently recovering valuable metals from complex feedstocks such as refractory ores, solid mining waste, and e-waste and in deeply removing impurity elements to produce high-purity materials. However, the technology faces challenges such as severe equipment corrosion, high capital and maintenance costs, elevated energy consumption, and complex off-gas treatment systems. Future efforts should focus on low-temperature chlorination, chlorinating agent recycling, multi-technology integration, and intelligent process control to achieve green, efficient, and large-scale industrial application.