Mercury-lithium recovery furnaces are specialized heat treatment equipment used to process hazardous waste containing mercury and lithium. They are primarily used for the resource recovery of materials such as waste lithium batteries, mercury-containing catalysts, chemical residues, metallurgical byproducts, and laboratory waste. Through controlled heating, mercury volatilizes at a lower boiling point and is recovered via a condensation system, while lithium and its compounds are enriched in the slag, facilitating subsequent lithium extraction processes. This equipment effectively reduces the risk of mercury pollution while recovering valuable metals, meeting environmental protection and safety requirements, and is widely used in the new energy, battery recycling, and environmental treatment industries.
Regarding the furnace structure, mercury-lithium recovery furnaces typically operate within the range of 400–800℃, requiring refractory materials to have resistance to thermal shock, chemical corrosion, and good sealing properties. The working layer often uses high-alumina bricks, high-alumina castables, or mullite castables, which possess good high-temperature strength and thermal shock resistance, and can adapt to frequent start-up and shutdown conditions. For environments containing mercury and lithium vapors and acidic gases, dense, low-iron, high-alumina materials or corundum refractories with strong resistance to chemical corrosion can be used in localized areas.
The insulation layer often employs lightweight high-alumina insulating bricks, mullite insulating bricks, or composite structures such as ceramic fiber boards and ceramic fiber blankets to reduce heat loss from the furnace body and improve energy utilization efficiency. The flue gas passages and the pre-condensation section require corrosion-resistant, airtight refractory castables or prefabricated components. A reasonable configuration of refractory materials can significantly extend the service life of the mercury and lithium recovery furnace, improve recovery efficiency, and enhance operational safety.