Loading patent…
AssigneeKennecott Utah Copper Corporation
InventorsTorstein Utigard, John F. Castle, Philip J. Gabb, David B. George
Estimating the term…
In a copper converting furnace, the (i) reduction of copper oxide in and the removal of copper metal from the slag, and (ii) conversion of copper sulfide in and the elimination of mineral waste from the blister copper is enhanced by introducing a gas, e.g. nitrogen, into at least one of the blister copper and slag such that the gas increases the turbulence or mixing at the blister copper/slag interface and promotes a lowering of the sulfur dioxide equilibrium pressure within the blister copper and slag phases. In one embodiment, the gas is introduced into both the molten blister copper and slag through a porous-wall injector.
A method of mixing a melt comprising a slag layer floating on top of a blister copper layer, the slag layer containing an oxygen-containing species and the blister copper layer containing a sulfur-containing species and a dissolved oxygen-containing species, the melt held within a settler zone of a bath copper converting furnace equipped to receive molten copper matte at a first location within the settler zone of the furnace, the method comprising the step of introducing a gas into at least one of the slag and blister copper layers at a second location within the settler zone of the furnace such that the sulfur-containing species in the blister copper reacts with the oxygen-containing species in the slag or the dissolved oxygen-containing species in the blister copper to form copper metal and sulfur dioxide.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.