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Thermodynamic Assessment of Slag–Matte–Metal Equilibria in the Cu-Fe-O-S-Si System

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Abstract

Equilibria among the slag, matte and metal phases in the Cu-Fe-O-S-Si system are critically assessed using thermodynamic modeling. The relationships among matte grade, temperature, partial pressure of SO2, Fe/SiO2 in the slag, and the copper concentration in the slag are described by the model, as well as the concentrations of other elements in all phases. A thermodynamic database is created, which can be used for understanding and improving the pyrometallurgical production of copper. An extensive experimental dataset includes the most recent results obtained by the equilibration/quenching/EPMA analysis technique. These data allow to distinguish the physical entrainment of the matte and solid phases in the slag from chemical solubility. As a result, it is possible to describe the copper solubility in the slag with high accuracy and establish the relationship between copper and sulfur in the slag. The thermodynamic database of the present study is consistent with previously reported thermodynamic evaluations of binary, ternary and quaternary subsystems. The slag phase is modeled using the two-sublattice modified quasichemical model in the quadruplet approximation. The matte and metal liquid phases are modeled as one solution using the single-sublattice modified quasichemical model in the pair approximation.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Australian Research Council, linkage project LP140100480 “Creating sustainable copper supplies by using innovative high temperature chemical processing of highly complex impure ores and recycled materials”. We appreciate the financial and technical support by the consortium of copper producers: Umicore NV, Aurubis AG, Kazzinc Ltd (Glencore), Outotec Oy, Complejo Metalúrgico Altonorte, Atlantic Copper, BHP Billiton Olympic Dam Corporation, PASAR (Glencore), Anglo American Platinum, Kennecott (Rio Tinto).

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  1. PYROSEARCH, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

    Denis Shishin, Evgueni Jak & Sergei A. Decterov

  2. Dép. de Génie Chimique, École Polytechnique, Centre de Recherche en Calcul Thermochimique (CRCT), Montreal, QC, Canada

    Sergei A. Decterov

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  1. Denis Shishin
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Correspondence to Sergei A. Decterov.

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This invited article is part of a special issue of the Journal of Phase Equilibria and Diffusion in honor of Prof. Zhanpeng Jin’s 80th birthday. The special issue was organized by Prof. Ji-Cheng (JC) Zhao, The Ohio State University; Dr. Qing Chen, Thermo-Calc Software AB; and Prof. Yong Du, Central South University.

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Shishin, D., Jak, E. & Decterov, S.A. Thermodynamic Assessment of Slag–Matte–Metal Equilibria in the Cu-Fe-O-S-Si System. J. Phase Equilib. Diffus. 39, 456–475 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11669-018-0661-0

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