Experimental Study on the Phase Equilibrium of Copper Matte and Silica-Saturated FeOx-SiO2-Based Slags in Pyrometallurgical WEEE Processing

The effects of the amphoteric and basic oxides alumina and lime on the phase equilibria of copper matte and silica-saturated slags were investigated at 1300 degrees C and P-SO2 = 0.1 atm in a controlled CO-CO2-SO2-Ar gas atmosphere using a high-temperature isothermal equilibration technique followed by rapid quenching. The equilibrium phase compositions were obtained by Electron Probe X-ray Microanalysis. The relationship between the copper concentration in matte and the oxygen partial pressure, iron, and sulfur in matte was quantified. The pure iron-silicate slag exhibited the highest copper loss in slag, although the addition of alumina and lime decreased its value by approximately a quarter and a half, respectively, at a matte grade of 65 wt pct Cu. In contrast, copper and sulfur were highly distributed in the matte phase, and their deportment to the matte was favored by addition of alumina and lime.