Karen Cornejo, Mao Chen
The pyrometallurgical route is a primary method for copper extraction from Cu–Fe–S ores, where the concentrate undergoes partial oxidation to form a Cu-rich matte, while impurities are relegated to the slag. This study aims to optimize the smelting process by minimizing copper loss in the slag, which is critical for improving recovery rates. High-temperature experiments were conducted to investigate the influence of slag composition, matte grade, and temperature on the concentration of copper in smelting slag. Both industrial and synthetic slag samples were equilibrated with matte under an argon atmosphere at different temperatures. Quenched samples were analyzed using electron probe X-ray microanalysis to assess microstructure and phase compositions. The results indicate that optimized parameters for flash smelting operations can significantly reduce copper content in the slag. Additionally, the experimental findings were compared with predictions from the FactSage software, revealing that while both data sets show similar trends, discrepancies exist likely due to varying experimental conditions. These insights contribute to enhanced operational efficiency in copper smelting processes.
@article{c63f84a0-a5ab-4a0d-bbeb-cf7b46008e52,
title={Control of Copper Loss in Flash Smelting},
author={Karen Cornejo and Mao Chen},
year={2026},
language={en}
}TY - JOUR TI - Control of Copper Loss in Flash Smelting AU - Karen Cornejo AU - Mao Chen PY - 2026 LA - en ER -
Santhana Krishnan, Nor Syahidah Zulkapli
Fast industrialization has increased the demand for heavy metals, while high-grade ore natural reserves are diminishing. Therefore, alternative source
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