A New Technology for Copper Slag Reduction to Get Molten Iron and Copper Matte

The change of iron composition as well as the removal of copper from iron was investigated in the reduction process, and a new way to deal with copper slag was proposed. The iron in copper slag exists mainly in the form of fayalite, and the copper sulfide content accounts for just about 50%. Therefore, the magnetic separation as well as grinding floatation method is not suitable, and a pyrogenic treatment on copper slag is necessary. The carburization and desulfurization process is restricted to a degree within the carbon composite pellets, and copper matte phase precipitates from copper slag in the reduction process, which is immiscible with molten iron and slag. The copper content decreases to 0.4 % as the carbon content in molten iron reaches 3. 84 %, and the removal ratio of copper from molten iron approaches to 80%. The reduction and sulfurization process can be completed in one step, and the copper is separated from iron based on the ternary system of iron-matte-slag.