Copper converting is the oxidation of molten Cu–Fe–S matte to form molten blister copper (99% Cu). It entails oxidizing Fe and S from the matte with oxygen-enriched air or air blast. The main raw materials for converting are matte, flux, oxygen, and additional cooling agents to manage heat generation and increase copper production. The main products of copper matte converting are molten blister copper, molten slag, and SO2-bearing offgas. The converting process can be carried out on a batch or continuous basis. 

Converting of copper matte

The slags generated in the conventional copper conversion process are mainly composed of Cu2O–Fe2O3–SiO2 with CaO, Al2O3, and MgO compounds—in concentrations up to 10 wt %. The present work contributes to the knowledge of the conversion process, generating experimental data for the phase diagrams of the Cu2O–Fe2O3–SiO2–Al2O3 and Cu2O–Fe2O3–SiO2–CaO systems. The experiments were carried out in a tubular furnace at temperatures of 1150 °C and 1200 °C, under a condition of saturation with tridymite and spinel. Once the equilibrium was reached, the samples were immediately quenched in water. The phases in the samples were observed through a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and the elemental composition of the phases were analyzed by means of energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) detectors. The addition of Al2O3 and CaO into the Cu2O–Fe2O3–SiO2 system resulted in an appreciable displacement of the liquidus lines, corresponding to an expansion of the liquid in the tridymite primary phase field. The addition of CaO and Al2O3 combined was evaluated on industrial slags and from samples obtained in a Peirce–Smith furnace, with increasing amounts of CaO in the flux.

https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/9/11/716/pdf

Experimental Determination of the Effect of CaO and Al2O3 in Slag Systems Related to the Conversion Process of High Copper Matte Grade

- Teniente smelting technology produce high copper concentration slag, which are treated to reduce the quantity of copper in the slag. The slag concentration in this slag is higher than some copper mineral weight percent. At the same time, seawater is an alternative for froth flotation, given the current prevailing water crisis. The present paper study of froth flotation of copper, from smelting slag, using not desalinated seawater as fresh water. The higher copper recovery obtained was 77.27%.

/pdf/study-of-the-copper-flotation-from-copper-smelter-slag-using-1r82rhrd.pdf

Erik Kohnenkamp

Papers

Experimental Determination of the Effect of CaO and Al2O3 in Slag Systems Related to the Conversion Process of High Copper Matte Grade

Study Of The Copper Flotation From Copper Smelter Slag, Using Seawater As Operation Water