Thermochemical Simulation, Thermogravimetry and Roasting Studies for Selective Sulfation of Copper in Flash Smelter Dust.

The thermal studies are a useful tool to understand the conversion of chalcopyrite to copper sulfate. We carried out thermochemical simulation in combination with thermogravimetric studies to understand the sulfation behavior of copper and iron in a copper smelter dust sample and to predict suitable roasting condition. Different oxide and sulfate phases of Cu and Fe forms as function of temperature. A temperature range of 150-1000°C was applied; however, a 550-650°C was found suitable for selective sulfation of copper. Further tests in a tube furnace at 600°C for three hours ensured 96% Cu sulfation and only 2.1% Fe sulfation

High purity copper recycled from smelter dust by sulfation roasting, water leaching and electrorefining

Metal recycling is drawing high interest in the context declining natural resources and the future circular economy. Smelter dust from copper extraction plants contains copper (Cu), which is both an economic loss and a pollution issue. There is therefore a need for techniques to recover Cu from ultrafine dust. Here we tested sulfation roasting, water leaching and electrorefining to recover Cu. We studied this process by thermochemical simulation and thermogravimetry to optimize sulfation roasting parameters such as time, temperature and quantity of sulfuric acid. Results show that copper can be selectively recovered as 99.9% of pure copper. Moreover, we recycled chemicals by-products of the plant in the process. Our findings suggest that this process is upscalable and should decrease the environmental pollution by Cu

Studies on the recovery of copper from the dust generated in copper smelter

Nonferrous metallurgical wastes like tailings, dross, dust, etc. are the potential resource of metals values. The technologies for recovery of valuable metals from these waste materials are under development. New recycling concept for metal-containing waste is developed to turn waste into a valuable resource and valorizing of the waste and residue after primary extraction of metals. The objective of the present work was to recover copper from the dust generated in a copper smelting plant. A representative sample of the dust was characterized by ICP-OES, XRD, and SEM-EDS methods. The major constituent of the dust was copper, iron, and sulfur along with minor amounts of nickel, molybdenum, and cobalt. The thermochemical simulation was carried out for the sulfation roasting of dust sample. The dust samples were roasted in the air with H2SO4 at 80 o C for 2 h. In comparison to the raw sample, the roasted dust sample showed better selectivity for the recovery of copper. The leaching of copper more selective with the roasting temperature from 600 to 900 o C with a simultaneous decrease in iron leaching. The results obtained from sulfation roasting were very encouraging. Water leaching of the roasted sample showed a significant increase in the recovery of copper