Method of forming metallurgical briquettes of zinciferous material

Claim 1

IN A ZINC SMELTING PROCESS INVOLVING THE STEPS OF FORMING GREEN METALLURGICAL BRIQUETTES COMPRISED OF AN INTIMATE MIXTURE OF A SUB-DIVIDED OXIDIC ZINCIFEROUS MATERIAL, A GROUND BITUMINOUS COKING COAL AND A BINDER MATERIAL, COKING THE GREEN BRIQUETTES, PASSING A VERTICAL COLUMN OF THE COKED BRIQUETTES DOWNWARDLY THROUGH A SMELTING ZONE IN A VERTICAL RETORT AND SMELTING THE COKET BRIQUETTES IN SAID SMELTING ZONE TO REMOVE ZINC VALUES FROM THE COKED BRIQUETTES AS METALLLIC ZINC VAPOR, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING THE STEP OF FORMING SAID GREEN BRIQUETTES WITH A BINDER MATERIAL COMPRISING A PLASTIC KAOLINITIC-BASE CALY HAVING A SOFTENING POINT IN EXCESS OF 2000*F. AND A MINERAL OIL HAVING A VISCOSITY OF ABOUT 200 TO 1000 SECONDS, SAYBOLD-FURAL, AT 122*F., WHEREBY COKED BRIQUETTES OF ENHANCED STRENGTH ARE OBTAINED IN SAID COKING STEP AND A REDUCED AMOUNT OF FINES ARE FORMED DURING SAID SMELTING STEP.