Production of copper via looping oxidation process
AssigneeOrchard Material Technology, LLC
InventorsLawrence F. McHugh, Leonid N. Shekhter, Joseph D. Lessard, Daniel G. Gribbin, Esra Cankaya-Yalcin
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Abstract
Copper is produced by a looping oxidizing process wherein oxidation of copper sulfide concentrate to molten blister copper by conversion with copper oxides (and optionally oxygen from air) in a one step, molten bath operation to produce molten blister copper, iron oxide slag, and rich SO2 off gas. The blister copper is treated in an anode furnace to reduce the iron content and oxidize residual sulfur, and prepare it for either electrolysis or reoxidation.
Claims69
A method for production of copper comprising:
- (a) providing, (1) a copper sulfide concentrate product of mineral refining comprising copper and iron metal values including sulfides thereof and (2) one or more copper oxides, to a molten slag wherein they react with each other for smelting desulfurization,
- (b) the copper oxides being provided to the slag in stoichiometric or in slight excess (up to about 20%) of stoichiometric ratios
- (c) agitating the molten slag via the injection of the gaseous products of fossil fuel combustion and/or a chemically inert gas
- (d) thereby oxidizing the sulfide concentrate to molten blister copper by conversion essentially with one or more copper oxides in a one step, molten bath operation to produce:
- (1) molten blister copper, (2) iron oxide slag, and (3) highly concentrated SO2 off gas,
- (e) treating the blister copper to reduce the iron content and oxidize residual sulfur therein, and to prepare it for either electrolysis or reoxidation.
A method for production of copper comprising the following steps:
- (a) copper sulfide concentrate and one or more copper oxides are fed into a molten slag wherein they react with each other
- (b) the molten slag is agitated via the injection of the gaseous products of fossil fuel combustion or a chemically inert gas with air, whose oxygen further reacts with the copper sulfide concentrate and one or more copper oxides
- (c) the total of copper oxides and oxygen from air are fed in stoichiometric or in slight excess (up to about 20%) of stoichiometric ratios
- (d) oxidation of copper sulfide concentrate to molten blister copper is carried out by conversion with a mixture of copper oxides and oxygen in air in a one step, molten bath operation to produce (1) molten blister copper, (2) iron oxide slag, and (3) highly concentrated SO2 off gas,
- (e) the blister copper is treated to reduce the iron content and oxidize residual sulfur, and prepare it for either electrolysis or reoxidation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.