The process experts are concerned in tellurium due to its various physical and chemical properties. The copper anode slime is the main industrial source of tellurium, after processing of that tellurium becomes marketable product and can be sold both in elemental form and tellurium-containing middling. Physical and chemical properties of the tellurium-containing middling of Kazakhmys Smelting LLP produced in 2018 have been studied in this paper. The following methods have been applied during the study: particle size distribution, X-ray phase, X-ray fluorescence and scanning electron probe microscopy. It was found that material is mainly represented by the large pieces of 0.2 mm in size, with moisture content of 15.57 %, bulk density of 0.8 g/cm3 without tapping and 0.88 g/cm3 with tapping, the angle friction - 33°. The elemental composition of the material was determined by X-ray fluorescence method as follows, wt. %: Cu – 33.327; Te – 21.863; Se – 0.766, O – 35.116; S – 5.045. X-ray phase analysis showed that material is mainly in the amorphous state, the following phases had been identified: Cu2.5SO4(OH)3·2H2O, Cu3(SO4)(OH)4, CuSO4(H2O)3. Tellurium-containing phases could not be detected due to strong amorphism. Hydrosulfate forms of copper in the form of flakes have been found on the surface of the middlings by electron probe microscopy. EDS analysis of individual areas showed that patina also contains small amounts of chlorine, selenium and up to 25 % tellurium, in addition to such elements as copper, sulfur and oxygen. Small amounts of sulfur, chromium, selenium and up to 45 % of oxygen has been found in the open area of material, that is specific for its oxidation.
The heterogeneity and local distribution of elements are established as a result of the study of nonferrous metals distribution and the composition of domestic wastes processing concentrate containing 20–40% copper, 40–50% brass, 20–28% zinc and up to 1% aluminium. Metals are mainly concentrated in granules of three types: zinc-based, copper-based and copper–zinc alloy, i.e., brass. The phase composition of these granule types and their structure are determined. Zinc granules are covered with a refractory oxide shell. A distillation processing method for such raw materials based on full state diagrams, including the phase transition of melting pairs of double systems of copper and tin with zinc and lead, is offered. The possibility of a rather complete zinc distillation (over 90%) with the accumulation of other metals in the copper-based alloy, containing more than 96 wt. % of the basic element, has been demonstrated by electric crucible melting in a highly reducing atmosphere. Copper-based alloys, after adjustment for the content of some metals (tin), can be realized as pressure-treated tin bronzes. Copper with the content of impurities corresponding to the standard for blister copper can be electrolytically processed (after dissolution in sulphuric acid) in copper production. Equipment for the implementation of the electro-thermal processing process that provides metal recycling of the metal concentrate is proposed.
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