Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The reduction of sulfide minerals by hydrogen in the presence of lime

  • Process Metallurgy
  • Published:
Metallurgical Transactions Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Calcium oxide favors greatly the reduction of metal sulfides by H2 at 800°C. Copper sulfides and copper-iron sulfides are reduced rapidly to metals: Cu2S+H2+CaO→2Cu+CaS+H2O CuS+H2+CaO→Cu+CaS+H2O Cu5FeS4+4H2+4CaO→5Cu+ Fe+4CaS+4H2O

The reduction of chalcopyrite takes place according to any of the following reactions depending on the amount of CaO added: Cu2S·Fe2S3+H2+CaO→Cu2S·2FeS+CaS+H2O Cu2S·Fe2S3+3H2+3CaO→Cu2S+2Fe+3CaS+3H2O Cu2S·Fe2S3+4H2+4CaO→2Cu+2Fe+4CaS+4H2O

Gravity and magnetic methods were not successful in separating the reaction products. However, leaching by dilute HCl was successful in eliminating CaS and iron (as FeS as well as metal) leaving behind Cu2S concentrate or metallic copper, respectively. Reduction of molybdenite is also influenced by the presence of CaO, but that of pentlandite is not.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. E. Gorin, G. P. Curran, and J. D. Batchelor: U. S. Patent No. 2,824,047 (1958).

  2. L. M. Barker: U.S. Patent No. 3,168,396 (1965).

  3. H. Kay: in “High Temperature Refractory Metals”, AIME Met. Soc. Conference, February, 1965, W. A. Krivsky, ed., published by Gordon & Breach, New York, 1968, pp. 33–44.

    Google Scholar 

  4. R. E. Cech and T. D. Tiemann:Trans. TMS-AIME, 1969, vol. 245, pp. 1727–33.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. W. Biltz:Z. Anorg. Allg. Chem., 1929, vol. 150, pp. 1–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. H. H. Kellogg:Can. Met. Quart., 1969, vol. 8(1), pp. 3–23.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. J. E. Hiller and K. Probstbain:Z. Kristallog., 1956, vol. 108, pp. 108–29.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mining & Metallurgy, Laval University, Quebec, Canada

    Fath Habashi & Raymond Dugdale

  2. the Magma Copper Company, San Manuel, Arizone

    Fath Habashi & Raymond Dugdale

Authors
  1. Fath Habashi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Raymond Dugdale
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

FATHI HABASHI and RAYMOND DUGADALE, formerly with the Research Division of the Anaconda Company, Tucson, Arizona

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Habashi, F., Dugdale, R. The reduction of sulfide minerals by hydrogen in the presence of lime. Metall Trans 4, 1865–1871 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02665414

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02665414

Keywords

Search

Navigation