VOLATILIZATION KINETICS OF MINOR ELEMENTS FROM MATTE

The theoretical limit to smelting rate and possibly the size of a smelter is dependent on the rate of heat transfer, and the chemical kinetics of both sulfur removal and minor element volatilization. This study investigates the fundamental kinetics of volatilization for minor elements such as As, Sb, Bi, and Pb from matte and white metal. It is shown that the molecular form of trace elements in matte relates to the chemical potential of sulfur and the tendency of the minor element to form a sulfide. This investigation aims to explore how the variable molecular form of the minor elements affects the volatilization kinetics. The authors review the experimental technique used and provide preliminary results indicating that existing models of impurity elimination during flash smelting, which assume local thermodynamic equilibrium, often fall short in accurately predicting the behavior of these elements. The discrepancy between predicted and observed values for elements like Pb and Sb highlights the need for a deeper understanding of the volatility behavior in smelting processes. Further investigations are necessary to refine models and improve predictions concerning the volatilization of minor elements in industrial applications.