Copper/tin/lead production

A process for the manufacturing of a first dilute copper metal composition comprising, on a weight basis and relative to its total dry weight:

• at least 57% wt and at most 85% wt of copper,
• at least 3.0% wt of nickel,
• at most 0.8% wt of iron
• at least 7% wt and at most 25% wt of tin, and
• at least 3% wt and at most 15% wt of lead,
• the process comprising the following steps:
• a) providing a black copper composition comprising at least 50% wt of copper and at least 1.0% wt of tin, together with at least 1.0% wt of lead;
• b) partially oxidizing the black copper composition, thereby forming a first enriched copper metal phase and a first copper refining slag, followed by separating the first copper refining slag from the first enriched copper metal phase;
• h) partially oxidizing the first enriched copper metal phase, thereby forming a second enriched copper metal phase and a second copper refining slag, followed by separating the second copper refining slag from the second enriched copper metal phase,
• whereby at least 37.0% wt of the total amount of the tin and lead that is processed through process steps b) and/or h) is retrieved in the first copper refining slag and the second copper refining slag together;
• j) partially oxidizing the second enriched copper metal phase, thereby forming a third enriched copper metal phase and a third copper refining slag, followed by separating the third copper refining slag from the third enriched copper metal phase;
• i) adding at least a part of at least one of the second copper refining slag and the third copper refining slag to a metal composition that contains copper together with at least one solder metal selected from tin and lead, thereby forming a first liquid bath;
• and
• d) partially oxidizing the first liquid bath, thereby forming the first dilute copper metal composition and a first solder refining slag, followed by separating the first solder refining slag from the first dilute copper metal composition.