PROCESS AND EQUIPMENT FOR THE TREATMENT OF LOADS OR RESIDUES OF NON-FERROUS METALS AND THEIR ALLOYS 

A process for the treatment of loads or residues of non-ferrous metals and their alloys includes the steps of loading of scraps or dross to be processed and heating the load and melting the metal. The process additionally includes revolving the heated load, tapping the molten metal and emptying a cavity of the furnace. Heating of the load or residues to a temperature above the melting temperature of the metal or non-ferrous alloy to be recovered is carried out by a free burning convective arc which is independent from the supply of external gas to the process, and which may dispense with the use of melting salts.