Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Phase equilibria in the metal-sulfur-oxygen system and selective reduction of metal oxides and sulfides: Part I. The carbothermic reduction and calcination of complex mineral sulfides

  • Published:
Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The difference in the standard Gibbs free energy for the formation of any two oxides or sulfides is the chemical potential for selective reduction of metals from complex minerals. The magnitude of the Gibbs free energy difference is shown by plotting the univariant relationships for relevant sulfides and oxides. In this investigation, three examples of mineral sulfides are considered, and the experimental results are compared with the predicted thermodynamic calculations. These examples include the reduction conditions for nickel and iron sulfides and pentlandite (Fe,Ni)9S8 and chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) minerals. The reduction behavior of mineral sulfides, such as those of nickel, cobalt, iron, and copper, is illustrated by referring to both the sulfide and alloy phase equilibria. In particular, the solution thermodynamic properties of the metallic phase equilibria are featured for determining the physical chemistry of preferential or selective reduction of the metal oxides and sulfides. The mechanism for the reduction of the aforementioned sulfide minerals is explained with the aid of the governing phase equilibria for the calcination process. The results from the carbothermic reduction of sulfide minerals are also compared. The important roles of lime and calcium sulfate in controlling the emission of sulfurous gases during the reduction reaction are explained. A qualitative analysis of reduction reactions of nickel and iron sulfides is reviewed to provide a comparison of the mechanism for complex nickel-bearing minerals. The importance of these results in producing alloy and pure metallic phases is also examined.

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. C. Bodsworth:The Extraction and Refining of Metals, 1st ed., CRC Press Inc., Boca Raton, FL, 1994, pp. 44–46.

    Google Scholar 

  2. J.R. Boldt, Jr.: inThe Winning of Nickel: Its Geology, Mining and Extractive Metallurgy, 1st ed., Paul Queneau, ed., Methuen & Co. Ltd., London, 1967, pp. 227–88.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Cobalt Monograph, prepared in collaboration with Battelle Memorial Institute, Colombus, OH, Centre D’Information du Cobalt, Brussels, 1960, pp. 33–42.

  4. O. Kubaschewski and C.B. Alcock:Metallurgical Thermochemistry, 5th ed., Pergammon Press, Oxford, United Kingdom, 1979, p. 400.

    Google Scholar 

  5. 1994 Britannica Book of the Year, Encyclopedia Britannica Inc., Chicago, IL, 1994, pp. 578–579 and 583.

  6. E.T. Turkdogan:Physical Chemistry of High Temperature Technology, 1st ed., Academic Press, New York, NY, 1980, pp. 5–24.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Animesh Jha, Brian S. Terry, and Paul Grieveson:Proc. Int. Conf. on Extractive Metallurgy of Gold and Base Metals, Kalgoorlie, Australia, 1992, V.N. Mishra, D. Halbe, and D.J. Spottiswood, eds., AusIMM. Parkville, Victoria, Australia, Oct. 1992, pp. 433–40.

    Google Scholar 

  8. A. Jha, U.O. Igiehon, and P. Grieveson:Scand J. Metall., 1991, vol. 20, pp. 270–78.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. A. Jha, P. Grieveson, and J.H.E. Jeffes:Scand J. Metall., 1989, vol. 18, pp. 31–45.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. N. Machingawuta, A. Jha, and P. Grieveson:Scand J. Metall., 1989, vol. 18, pp. 81–88.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. A. Jha and P. Grieveson:Scand. J. Metall., 1992, vol. 21, pp. 127–37.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. T.B. Jorgensen, T. Rosenqvist, and T. Torgersen:J. Met., 1970, vol. 22, p. 39.

    Google Scholar 

  13. K. Koch and G. Trömel:Arch. Eisenhuttenwes., 1977, vol. 48, pp. 133–38.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. A.G. Hunt, A.A. Kamkoy, and M.L. Sorokim:Proc. Int. Conf. on Extractive Metallurgy of Gold and Base Metals, Kalgoorlie, Australia, 1992, V.N. Mishra, D. Halbe, and D.J. Spottiswood. eds., AusIMM. Parkville, Victoria, Australia, Oct. 1992, pp. 421–22.

    Google Scholar 

  15. V.P. Bystrov, A.N. Fyodorov, A.A. Komkov, and S.L. Sorokin:Proc. Int. Conf on Extractive Metallurgy of Gold and Base Metals, Kalgoorlie, Australia, 1992, V. N. Mishra, D. Halbe, and D.J. Spottiswood, eds., AusIMM, Parkville. Victoria, Australia. Oct. 1992, p. 480.

    Google Scholar 

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

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. J.D. Ford and M.A. Fahim:Metall. Trans. B, 1975, vol. 6B, pp. 461–64.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. M.C. Bronson and H.Y. Sohn:Metall. Trans., 1983, vol. 14B, pp. 605–15.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. R.C. Kerby: Investigation Report No. IR 73-47, Mines Branch, Department of Energy, Mines and Resources, Ottawa, Canada, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  20. P. Marier: Internal Report No. EMI 72-14, Mines Branch, Department of Energy, Mines and Resources, Ottawa, Canada, 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  21. A. Jha and P. Grieveson:Scand. J. Metall., 1992, vol. 21, pp. 50–62.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Animesh Jha and Eoghan T. Doyle:EPD Congr. TMS Meeting, San Diego, CA, 1992, J.P. Hager, ed., TMS, Warrendale, PA. 1992, pp. 745–58.

    Google Scholar 

  23. E.T. Turkdogan:Physical Chemistry of High Temperature Technology, 1st ed., Academic Press, New York, NY, 1980, pp. 296–303.

    Google Scholar 

  24. A. Jha and P. Grieveson:Scand. J. Metall., 1990, vol. 19, pp. 39–48.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Materials, University of Leeds, LS2 9JT, Leeds, UK

    Animesh Jha

  2. Changsha Research Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Changsha, People’s Republic of China

    Sanchuan Tang

  3. Department of Materials, University of Surrey, GU2 5XH, Surrey, UK

    Andreas Chrysanthou

Authors
  1. Animesh Jha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sanchuan Tang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Andreas Chrysanthou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Formerly with the Department of Materials Technology, Brunei University, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, United Kingdom.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Jha, A., Tang, S. & Chrysanthou, A. Phase equilibria in the metal-sulfur-oxygen system and selective reduction of metal oxides and sulfides: Part I. The carbothermic reduction and calcination of complex mineral sulfides. Metall Mater Trans B 27, 829–840 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02915612

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02915612

Keywords

Search

Navigation