Method for refining copper concentrate

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for refining copper concentrate. In the method, copper concentrate (1), flux (2) and reaction gas (3) are fed together into the reaction shaft (5) of a suspension smelting furnace (4), for instance to the reaction shaft (5) of a flash smelting furnace, and in the suspension smelting furnace (4), there are created separate phases, i.e. blister copper (13) and slag (14). In the method, slag from a suspension smelting furnace (14) is conducted into an electric furnace (16), and the slag from the suspension smelting furnace(14) is treated in the electric furnace (16) with a reduction agent, so that in the electric furnace (16), there are created separate phases, i.e. bottom metal (17) and waste slag (18); the electric furnace bottom metal (17) is removed from the electric furnace (16), the electric furnace bottom metal (17) is granulated, and there is obtained granulated electric furnace bottom metal (22); and the granulated electric furnace bottom metal (22) is fed to the reaction shaft (5) of a suspension smelting furnace (4).

Description

technical field [0001] The invention relates to a method for refining copper concentrates according to the preamble of claim 1 . Background technique [0002] When refining copper concentrate in a suspension smelting furnace such as a flash smelting furnace, two phases are obtained from the suspension smelting furnace as products, namely blister copper (blister copper) and suspension smelting slag. [0003] The blister copper obtained from the suspension smelting furnace is further refined in an anode furnace after the suspension smelting furnace, the copper is subsequently cast into copper anodes, and by using said copper anodes, the copper is further electrolytically refined in an electrolyzer. [0004] However, not all the copper contained in the copper concentrate is transferred from the copper concentrate to the blister copper in the suspension smelting furnace, while the slag from the suspension smelting furnace contains a large amount of copper, often even up to 20%, ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, in order to recover the copper contained in the partially reduced slag obtained from the electric furnace, the partially reduced slag from the electric furnace must be processed in a concentration plant, which is expensive in terms of operating costs and investment costs

Images