Processes for preparing various metals and derivatives thereof from copper- and sulfur-containing material

A process for preparing various metals and derivatives thereof, said process comprising:

• feeding a blast furnace with copper-containing briquettes having a ratio (2*% S)/(% Cu) of about 0.5 to about 2.0 and a source of carbon in order to obtain a multi-layer product and an off gas;
• and
• wherein said obtained multi-layer product comprises:
• a first layer disposed at the top of said multi-layer product, said first layer comprising slag;
• a second layer, disposed below said first layer, and that comprises matte;
• a speiss layer disposed below said second layer;
• and
• optionally a bottom layer disposed below said second layer or said speiss layer and comprising an alloy of at least two metals,
• wherein said process comprises controlling a sulfur content of said second layer and feeding said blast furnace with an iron source if said sulfur content is over a predetermined value, leading to a given metallization level for said second layer, wherein said speiss layer comprises about 55% to about 90% by weight of iron.

A process for preparing various metals and derivatives thereof, said process comprising:

• feeding a furnace with a raw material chosen from a copper-containing material, a nickel-containing material, a cobalt-containing material and mixtures thereof so as to volatilize at least partially at least one of arsenic and indium contained therein, thereby obtaining a material at least partially depleted in at least one of arsenic and indium;
• and
• feeding a melting device with said at least partially depleted material and a source of carbon in order to obtain a multi-layer product and an off gas;
• wherein said multi-layer obtained product comprises:
• a first layer disposed at the top of said multi-layer product, said first layer comprising slag;
• a second layer, disposed below said first layer, and that comprises matte;
• a speiss layer disposed below said second layer;
• and
• optionally a bottom layer disposed below said second layer or said speiss layer and comprising an alloy of at least two metals,
• wherein said process comprises at least one of
• modifying a composition of said raw material before volatilizing so as to obtain a ratio % S/(% (Cu/2)+% Ni+% Co) of about 0.5 to about 2;
• and
• modifying a composition of said at least partially, depleted material before melting so as to obtain a ratio % S/(% (Cu/2)+% Ni+% Co) of about 0.5 to about 2,
• wherein said process comprises controlling a sulfur content of said second layer and feeding said melting device with an iron source if said sulfur content is over a predetermined value, leading to a given metallization level for said second layer, wherein said speiss layer comprises about 55% to about 90% by weight of (Fe+Ni+Co).

A process for preparing various metals and derivatives thereof, said process comprising:

• feeding a furnace with a copper-containing material so as to volatilize at least partially at least one of arsenic and indium contained therein, thereby obtaining a material at least partially depleted in at least one of arsenic and indium;
• and
• feeding a melting device with said at least partially depleted material and a source of carbon in order to obtain a multi-layer product and an off gas;
• wherein said obtained multi-layer product comprises:
• a first layer disposed at the top of said multi-layer product, said first layer comprising slag;
• a second layer, disposed below said first layer, and that comprises matte;
• a speiss layer disposed below said second layer;
• and
• optionally a bottom layer disposed below said second layer or said speiss layer and comprising an alloy of at least two metals,
• wherein said process comprises at least one of
• modifying a composition of said copper-containing material before volatilizing so as to obtain a ratio 2*% S/(% Cu) of about 0.5 to about 2.0;
• and
• modifying a composition of said at least partially depleted material before melting so as to obtain a ratio 2*% S/(% Cu) of about 0.5 to about 2.0,
• and wherein said process comprises feeding said melting device with a source of metallic iron (Fe0) so as to obtain said speiss layer that comprises Fe, As and Ge.

A process for preparing various metals and derivatives thereof, said process comprising:

• feeding a blast furnace with copper-containing briquettes having a ratio (2*% S)/(% Cu) of about 0.5 to about 2.0 and a source of carbon in order to obtain a multi-layer product and an off gas;
• and
• wherein said multi-layer product comprises:
• a first layer disposed at the top of said multi-layer product, said first layer comprising slag;
• a second layer, disposed below said first layer, and that comprises matte;
• a speiss layer disposed below said second layer;
• and
• optionally a bottom layer disposed below said second layer or said speiss layer and comprising an alloy of at least two metals,
• wherein said process comprises controlling a sulfur content of said second layer and feeding said blast furnace with a source of metallic iron (Fe0) leading to a given metallization level for said second layer.

A process for preparing various metals and derivatives thereof, said process comprising:

• feeding a furnace with a raw material chosen from a copper-containing material, a nickel-containing material, a cobalt-containing material and mixtures thereof so as to volatilize at least partially at least one of arsenic and indium contained therein, thereby obtaining a material at least partially depleted in at least one of arsenic and indium;
• and
• feeding a melting device with said at least partially depleted material and a source of carbon in order to obtain a multi-layer product and an off gas;
• wherein said obtained product comprises:
• a first layer disposed at the top of said multi-layer product, said first layer comprising slag;
• a second layer, disposed below said first layer, and that comprises matte;
• a speiss layer disposed below said second layer;
• and
• optionally a bottom layer disposed below said second layer or said speiss layer and comprising an alloy of at least two metals,
• wherein said process comprises at least one of
• modifying a composition of said raw material before volatilizing so as to obtain a ratio % S/(% (Cu/2)+% Ni+% Co) of about 0.5 to about 2;
• and
• modifying a composition of said at least partially depleted material before melting so as to obtain a ratio % S/(% (Cu/2)+% Ni+% Co) of about 0.5 to about 2,
• wherein said process comprises controlling a sulfur content of said second layer and feeding said melting device with a source of metallic iron (Fe0), leading to a given metallization level for said second layer.