MEANS FOR SEPARATING SOLID AND MOLTEN PARTICLES FROM THE EXHAUST GASES OF METALLURGICAL FURNACES AND WAY TO RECOVER LEAD FROM SUCH GASES

The invention concerns a means for separating molten particles from the exhaust gases of metallurgical furnaces and for returning them to a furnace space; a molten dust cyclone is provided substantially within the furnace space or in its immediate vicinity, the cyclone comprises a vertical cylindercal chamber, a passage leading from the furnace space tangentially to the chamber, an exit aperture in the upper part of the chamber for removing the gas and a tap aperture in the lower part of the chamber for returning to the furnace space, the solid and molten material that has separated from the gas; there is also provided a way recovering metal for example, lead from the exhaust gases of a metallurgical furnace by regulating the oxygen partial pressure in the exhaust gases and temperature and by subjecting the exhaust gases immediately to centrifugal separation to separate metal fog droplets from the gas for return to the furnace.