Continuous converting of copper matte to blister copper in a high-intensity molten-layer reactor

Abstract

Continuous converting of copper matte or white metal into blister copper is carried out in a new, high-intensity falling film type of molten-layer reactor that operates with dry, high-grade matte or white metal ground to -65 mesh and technical oxygen. The reactor operates at up to 1500A degrees C to 1600A degrees C producing a blister copper with 0.5-0.8% S, which can be refined in a conventional manner, and a slag containing less than 8% Cu. The reactor is designed to operate continuously producing an off-gas containing over 50% SO2. The developed phenomenological model of the molten-layer reactor was found to predict with good agreement the results obtained in a one-tonne-per-day pilot reactor.