A process for removing solid compounds from a molten metal bath, the molten metal selected from liquid zinc and liquid, zinc-based alloys, the process comprising:
- subjecting the molten metal containing the solid compounds to an acceleration higher than the acceleration due to gravity thereby effecting at least partial demixing of the molten metal into fractions comprising at least one of heavier and lighter components and obtaining at least a fraction enriched with the solid compounds and a fraction depleted of the solid compounds;
- separating the fraction enriched with the solid compounds from the fraction depleted of the solid compounds;
- one of returning the molten metal depleted of the solid compounds to the metal bath and using the molten metal depleted of the solid compounds in a new bath;
- and
- at least one of discharging the molten metal enriched with the solid compounds and supplying same to a further separation process.