Pyrometallurgical oxidation of molybdenum rich matte
AssigneeKennecott Corporation
InventorsJonathan J. Kim, Paul R. Ammann
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Molten molybdenum-(copper)-iron-sulfur mattes or alloys, obtained for example, by reacting slags or other molybdenum containing oxide residues or waste materials with an iron and/or sulfide reductant, are enriched in molybdenum and copper (if present) by a pyrometallurgical process. The molten matte or alloy material is oxidized to remove sulfur, as sulfur oxides, while varying amounts of iron are converted to iron oxides which separate from the metallics. The oxidation thus enriches the molybdenum and copper content of the remaining alloy. Silica flux may be added during the reaction process to form a fluid slag with the iron oxide which separates from the remaining molybdenum-iron-(copper) material which constitutes the product.
Claims8
A process for producing a molybdenum product from a material containing molybdenum values comprising the following steps:
- (a) selecting an oxidic material that has the following composition:
- 0.05-3% molybdenum, 0-10% copper, and the remainder being comprised of FeO, Fe.sub.3 O.sub.4, SiO.sub.2, CaO, MgO, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, S, and impurities selected from the group of arsenic, lead, zinc and mixtures thereof;
- (b) reacting the molten oxidic material of step (a) with an iron-sulfur reductant, said reaction being performed at a temperature between the slag melting point and 1600.degree. C.;
- (c) separating an iron sulfur matte or alloy as a reaction product from the reaction of step (b), said matte having the following composition:
- ______________________________________ Constituent Percent by Weight ______________________________________ Mo 1-30 Cu 0-20 S 2-15 impurities 0-5 Fe balance ______________________________________
- (d) delivering said matte product of step (c) to a ladle or furnace and injecting oxygen into the matte in said ladle or furnace while it is molten to selectively oxidize the iron and sulfur in said matte or alloy to produce an iron slag phase and a molybdenum phase having the following composition:
- ______________________________________ Constituent Percent by Weight ______________________________________ Mo up to 35 Cu 0-35 S 0-2% impurities less than 1% Fe balance ______________________________________
- and,
- (e) removing the molybdenum product of step (d) which separates from the iron slag phase which forms in step (d).
A process for producing a molybdenum product from a material containing molybdenum values comprising the following steps:
- (a) selecting an oxidic material that has the following composition:
- ______________________________________ Constituent Percent by Weight ______________________________________ FeO 40-60 Fe.sub.3 O.sub.4 (5-30) as part of FeO SiO.sub.2 20-38 CaO 0-5 MgO 0-5 Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 0-10 Cu 0-10 Mo trace (.05) to 3 S 0-3 impurities 0-5 ______________________________________
- (b) reacting the molten oxidic material of step (a) with an iron-sulfur reductant, said reaction being performed at a temperature between the slag melting point and 1600.degree. C.;
- (c) separating an iron sulfur matte or alloy as a reaction product from the reaction of step (b), said matte having the following composition:
- ______________________________________ Constituent Percent by Weight ______________________________________ Mo 1-30 Cu 0-20 S 2-15 impurities 0-5 Fe balance ______________________________________
- (d) delivering said matte product of step (c) to a ladle or furnace and injecting oxygen into the matte in said ladle or furnace while it is molten to selectively oxidize the iron and sulfur in said matte or alloy to produce an iron slag phase and a molybdenum phase having the following composition:
- ______________________________________ Constituent Percent by Weight ______________________________________ Mo up to 35 Cu 0-35 S 0-2 impurities 0 to less than 1% Fe balance ______________________________________
- and,
- (e) removing the molybdenum product of step (d) which separates from the iron slag phase which forms in step (d).
A process for producing a molybdenum product from a material containing molybdenum values comprising the following steps:
- (a) providing a matte or alloy having the following composition:
- ______________________________________ Constituent Percent by Weight ______________________________________ Mo 1-30 Cu 0-20 S 2-15 impurities 0-5 Fe balance ______________________________________
- (b) delivering said matte product of step (a) to a ladle or furnace and injecting oxygen into the matte in said ladle or furnace while it is molten to selectively oxidize the iron and sulfur in said matte or alloy to produce an iron slag phase and a molybdenum phase having the following composition:
- ______________________________________ Constituent Percent by Weight ______________________________________ Mo up to 35 Cu 0-35 S 0-2 impurities 0 to less than 1% Fe balance ______________________________________
- and,
- (c) removing the molybdenum product of step (b) which separates from the iron slag phase which forms in step (b).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.