Process for producing copper and elemental sulfur

Abstract

Abstract AN INTEGRATED PROCESS IS DISCLOSED FOR RECOVERYING COPPER AND ELEMENTAL SULFUR FROM SULFIDIC COPPER ORE, THE EFFLUENT FLUE GASES OF THE PROCESS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY FREE OF SULFUR DIOXIDE AND OTHER SULFUROUS GASES. IN THE PROCESS THE SULFIDIC COPPER ORE IS GROUND AUTOGENOUSLY TO PRODUCE A FINELY DIVIDED FLOTATION FEED MATERIAL THAT IS SUBJECTED TO FROTH FLOTATION TO OBTAIN A COPPER ORE CONCENTRATE AND SILICEOUS FLOTATION TAILINGS. THE COPPER ORE CONCENTRATE IS MIXED AND NODULIZED WITH A CARBONACEOUS FUEL AND A FLUX TO PRODUCE AUTOGENOUS SMELTING NODULES. THE NODULES ARE SMELTED AUTOGENOUSLY AND THE RESULTING MOLTEN MATTE AND SLAG ARE CONVERTED TO MOLTEN BLISTER COPPER AND CONVERTER SLAG BY BLOWING THE HEATED NODULES, MATTE AND SLAG WITH AN OXIDIZING GAS IN A CONVERTER. THE BLISTER COPPER IS RECOVERED AS ONE PRODUCT OF THE PROCES, AND THE CONVERTER SLAG IS CAST IN THE FORM OF GRINDING BOULDERS WHICH ARE UTILIZED AS THE GRINDING MEDIUM IN THE AUTOGNEOUS GRINDING STEP OF THE PROCESS. THE SENSIBLE HEAT OF THE HOT CONVERTER GAS IS UTILIZED TO SUPPLY THE THERMAL ENERGY REQUIREMENTS OF A CATALYTIC REFORMER IN WHICH STEAM AND METHANE ARE REACTED TO PRODUCE HYDROGEN AND CARBON OXIDES. THE RESULTING HYDROGEN IS REACTED WITH THE SULFUR DIOXIDE CONTENT OF THE CONVERTER GAS TO PRODUCE HYDROGEN SULFIDE GAS, AND THIS HYDROGEN SULFIDE IS REACTED WITH A FURTHER QUANTITY OF SULFUR DIOXIDE TO PRODUCE ELEMENTAL SULFUR WHICH IS RECOVERED AS THE SECOND PRODUCT OF THE PROCESS. THE CONVERTER GAS IS SUBSTANTIALLY DEPLETED IN ITS SULFUR DIOXIDE CONTENT AND MAY SAFELY BE DISCHARGED INTO THE ATMOSPHERE.

Inventors

• 👤 John T Cullom

Bibliographic Details