摘要 |
This invention comprises a process for the direct production of copper metal from a cupriferous slurry comprising forming a molten bath of cupriferous material at a temperature of about 2100 DEG to 2400 DEG F., at least one of said bath and said slurry comprising sufficient sulfidic material to develop and maintain said bath temperature by oxidation of said sulfidic material, injecting an oxygen-containing gas and said cupriferous slurry into said molten bath, said injection being accomplished by use of a high-velocity stream of said gas and slurry directed at the surface of said bath at an angle of from about 20 DEG to 40 DEG from the horizontal, and separately withdrawing the resulting slag and metallic copper from the bath, the proportion of slurry and volume of oxygen injected being adjusted with respect to the available sulfidic material to permit operation at a temperature range of from about 2100 DEG to 2400 DEG F. |