Slags and mattes in vanyukov’s process for the extraction of copper

Abstract

Slags and matte in Vanyukov's process, an autogeneous method of processing sulfide concentrates of nonferrous metals used in a specially designed furnace at the Balkhash copper-smelting plant (Kazakstan), have been characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The liquid matte was shown to have contained 3.6 wt pct of slag inclusions and about 4 wt pct of magnetite. The solid matte is a mixture of sulfide phases. The liquid-waste slag was shown to have contained 0.6 wt pct of matte inclusions and about 3 wt pct of magnetite. The silicate field of the solid slag consists of two phases, identified as iron orthosilicate and iron metasilicate. It was shown that most slag formation occurred before the emulsion reached the settling tank of the furnace. Thermodynamic calculation of the exchange reactions for the oxide and sulfide components of the slag showed that zinc and lead dissolved in the slag are present mainly as oxides, but with only a small part (10 to 20 pct) in the form of sulfides. By contrast, copper is present in the slag as dissolved sulfides and also as matte reguli. The results of these thermodynamic calculations are supported by the experimental data.

Viscosity and thermal properties of slag in the process of autogenous smelting of copper–zinc concentrates

“…Silicates are represented by the coarse crystals of fayalite Fe 2 SiO 4 , while the interspace is filled with pyroxene (Ca, Fe)SiO 3 and olivine-pyroxene eutectic. In terms of phase composition and structure, this microstructure is close to that of typical slag obtained by the same way in the process of autogenous smelting at the other coppersmelting plants (Vaisburd et al, 2002a). Increase of CaO content in the slag results in the structure refinement, silicate eutectic suppression and magnetite crystallisation in the form of inclusions of irregular and elongated shape .…”

Transport Phenomena in Copper Bath Smelting and Converting Processes – A Review of Experimental and Modeling Studies

“…The side or bottom lances or tuyeres are all submerged beneath the surface of the melt. Side-blown furnaces typically include Vanyukov (Vaisburd et al 2002;Zhang et al 2015), Teniente (Devia et al 2019), and Noranda (Tarassoff 1984), whereas Shuikoushan (SKS) furnaces are bottom blown (Cui et al 2010;Qu et al 2012). Some of these bath smelting technologies are also successfully used in copper converting processes for which the Peirce-Smith (P-S) converter is still the most commonly used (Moskalyk and Alfantazi 2003;Southwick 2008).…”

Alternative Reduction of Copper Matte in Reduction Process of Copper Slag

“…4) As secondary resources with great energy value and economic value, slags had comparable or even better properties than their competitive materials, 5,6) and its recycling had been a hot research topic. The main use of copper slag is to recycle iron or copper inside.…”