Three major thrusts by Inco Limited on polution control

Inco Ltd. says work will continue during 1987 on three major activities involved in the development and testing of new processes to further reduce sulphur dioxide emissions from its Sudbury, Ont., smelter complex.

One of these programs will involve the smelting of bulk nickel/copper concentrates, for which major alterations are in progress to some facilities, which are mainly related to the move towards bulk smelting.

Inco says that this smelting method “is emerging as, potentially, the major element of the over-all smelter improvement/SO03 1/2203 1/2 abatement programs.” A bulk smelting test is planned for late this year.

A second activity involves continuing research and tests on an improved technology for removing greater amounts of sulphur-laden pyrrhotite, an iron sulphide mineral, before it is fed into the smelter.

Removal of more of this material results in less sulphur dioxide released in smelting, and Inco is currently constructing a $5.5-million commercial size test circuit in the Copper Cliff mill. Of that dollar amount, 40% is covered by a federal government grant, the company says.

And, Inco reports, it is now analysing results of a reduction smelting test conducted on a modified reverberatory furnace.

An Ontario government regulation requires the company to reduce sulphur dioxide emissions from 685 kilotonnes annually, to 265 kilotonnes by 1994.