Outokumpu Oy

Simo A Makipirtti

Launo L Lilja

Valto J Makitalo

Pekka T Setala

Mauri J Peuralinna

Jussi J Kayhko

Frans H Tuovinen

Helge J Krogerus

Kaarlo M Saari

Heimo J Heino

Veikko M Polvi

A process for the removal of impurities from sulphidic and metallized molten copper mattes, in which in preliminary smelting of the crude metal molten sulphide and molten arsenide-antimonide phases are produced, whereby (a) the molten arsenide-antimonide matte is treated with elemental sulphur vapor to produce molten sulphide and molten arsenide phases in equilibrium with each other, that after this the conjugate melt system is sulphurated continuously under reduced pressure in order to volatilize arsenic, antimony, bismuth, lead and tin, or (b) the conjugate molten phases in equilibrium with each other are separated from each other, the thus separated arsenide matte is sulphurated further in a solid state and advantageously using elemental sulphur vapor at high partial pressure in order to volatilize arsenic, antimony, bismuth, selenium and tellurium from the matte as sulphides, and the separated molten sulphide phase is sulphurated under reduced pressure to volatilize arsenic, antimony, bismuth, lead and tin from the melt.

Apparatus for removal of impurity components from sulphidic and

The present invention relates to a process for the separation of gold and silver from complex sulfide ores and concentrates which, in addition to the primary metals, contain constituents having an adverse effect on the separation of the noble metals, by heating the sulfide ore or concentrate at a temperature of 600.degree.-900.degree. C. and a sulfur pressure of 0.2-1 atm in order to bring the complex metal compounds to a suitable form for subsequent alkalic cyanide leaching, and by separating the gold- and silver-bearing cyanide solution from the undissolved residue.

Process for the separation of gold and silver from complex sulfide ores

A device for blowing gas and a finely-divided solid into a metallurgical melt is disclosed, the device having a blast pipe which has at one end an inlet connected to a gas source and at the opposite end an outlet immersed below the melt surface in order to blow the gas into the melt. A cooling device surrounds the blast pipe, the cooling device having, at that end which is near the blast-pipe inlet, inlets and outlets for the cooling medium, and a mantle of ceramic material which surrounds at least the lower part of the cooling device. In the outlet of the blast pipe there is a Laval nozzle which is at an angle to the blast pipe and extends through the thermally insulating mantle. The cooling device further consists of smaller-diameter cooling pipes parallel to the blast pipe, the inlets of the cooling pipes being intended to be connected to a source of a gas-liquid mixture which vaporizes rapidly in the cooling device, and the mantle is surrounded by a graphite or silicon carbide sleeve, which is at least so thick that it protects the ceramic material when the device is lowered into the melt, so that the ceramic material reaches the temperature of the melt more slowly than the sleeve does and sinters before the sleeve wears out.

Gas-blast pipe for feeding reaction agents into metallurgical melts

A molten metal matte low in iron is oxidized by blasting oxygen or air into the metal layer to produce raw metal.

Process for the oxidation of molten low-iron metal matte to produce raw

Sulfidizing pre-treatment of slag from pyrometallurgical processes in order to facilitate its further treatment, by stacking solid sulfur-bearing reductant and molten slag in alternate layers, the temperature of the molten slag being so low that crystals are formed upon the addition of the reductant, or soon after the addition of the reductant, but at the same time so high that it suffices for melting the reductant between the slag layers; and by allowing the slag to cool.

Process for a sulfidizing pretreatment of the slag of pyrometallurgical

An apparatus for the vaporization of elemental sulfur by means of carrier gas, the apparatus comprising a first thermally insulated vessel for the melting of elemental sulfur, provided with a heating means, a stirrer and an inlet pipe for elemental sulfur, and at least one second vessel inside the first vessel and communicating vessel with it, and provided with heating means, a stirrer, means for feeding carrier gas and an outlet pipe for sulfur vapors, and optionally also provided with thermal insulation, for vaporizing the molten elemental sulfur flowing from the former vessel by means of carrier gas.

Apparatus for the vaporization of elemental sulfur by means of carrier

A process for the selective removal of the impurities, arsenic, antimony, selenium, tellurium and bismuth, present in sulfidic complex or mixed ores and concentrates or industrial precipitates containing similar minerals, by breaking up and rearranging, at an elevated temperature of 600.degree.-900.degree. C. and a high partial pressure of at least 0.2 atm of elemental sulfur, the minerals present in the raw material, in order to cause the formed new impurity compounds to pass into the gas phase, wherein the rearranging is carried out in a gas atmosphere which, in addition to sulfur, contains a sulfur halide in order to halogenate the impurity compounds which have passed into the gas phase, to form stable halides which no longer affect the vaporization equilibrium.

Process for the selective removal of impurities present in sulfidic

A process for the suspension smelting of finely divided oxide and/or sulfide ores and concentrates, especially iron-rich copper and/or nickel concentrates, in which a suspension of a finely-divided feed mixture in pre-heated air and/or oxygen is fed downwards, at the reaction temperature or above it, first into a suspension oxidation zone for the oxidation and partial smelting of the raw material in suspension, and therafter into a suspension reduction zone under the suspension oxidation zone for a partial sulfidization of the oxidized raw material, where the suspension flow is finally caused to change its flow direction perpendicularly sidewards so that most of the raw material present in the suspension flow impinges against the surface of the accumulated melt in a melt reaction zone below the suspension reduction zone, wherein an oxidizing gas is injected into the matte phase of the melt reaction zone in order to produce raw metal from the valuable metals present in the melt and the remaining suspension flow and the gases from the melt reaction zone are directed into a rising-flow zone, where the flow is possibly after-sulfidized and cooled and the solid materials are separated from the rising-flow zone flue gases in order to return them to the suspension oxidation zone.

Device for suspension smelting of finely-divided _oxide and/or sulfide

A suspension of finely divided impure sulfidic complex or mixed ores or concentrates and air flowing downwards in a reaction zone at a high temperature is first oxidized to vaporize the impurities and then reduced or sulfidized to bring the unvaporized impurities into the gas phase before separating thesolids from the gas phase.

Process for the refining of sulfidic complex and mixed ores or

A process for the suspension smelting of sulfide concentrates by causing a suspension flowing downwards in a suspension reaction zone to impinge against the surface of a melt below the suspension reaction zone in order to unload the solid and molten particles of the suspension into the melt and by causing the gases to flow further in the suspension reaction zone countercurrently in relation to the suspension in order to discharge the gases from the upper section of the suspension reaction zone, in which sulfide concentrate and oxygen or oxygen-enriched air are fed into the suspension reaction zone symmetrically and in the form of so dense a suspension spray that the iron oxide of the high-temperature suspension is in a molten state and absorbs the free oxygen present in the suspension before the suspension, at a temperature of at least 1400.degree. C., unloads into the melt, the heat is recovered indirectly in the suspension reaction zone from the gases rising symmetrically and smoothly around the suspension, and the melt is fed from the suspension reaction zone into a separate melt reaction space.

Process for the suspension smelting of sulfide concentrates

A process for the suspension smelting of finely divided oxide and/or sulfide ores and concentrates, especially iron-rich copper and/or nickel concentrates, in which a suspension of a finely-divided feed mixture in pre-heated air and/or oxygen is fed downwards, at the reaction temperature or above it, first into a suspension oxidation zone for the oxidation and partial smelting of the raw material in suspension, and thereafter into a suspension reduction zone under the suspension oxidation zone for a partial sulfidization of the oxidized raw material, where the suspension flow is finally caused to change its flow direction perpendicularly sidewards so that most of the raw material present in the suspension flow impinges against the surface of the accumulated melt in a melt reaction zone below the suspension reduction zone, wherein an oxidizing gas is injected into the matte phase of the melt reaction zone in order to produce raw metal from the valuable metals present in the melt and the remaining suspension flow and the gases from the melt reaction zone are directed into a rising-flow zone, where the flow is possibly after-sulfidized and cooled and the solid materials are separated from the rising-flow zone flue gases in order to return them to the suspension oxidation zone.

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Nakkila, Finland

Simo A Makipirtti