Process for extracting bismuth from a bismuth-bearing material

摘要

A process for the pyrometallurgical extraction of bismuth from a bismuth-bearing material (e.g., ores and concentrates of bismuth in the roasted or unroasted states), in an electric furnace with submerged electrodes in which the sulphur content of the charge constituted of the bismuth-bearing material is controlled so that a matte phase is produced having a bismuth content of between 3 and 20% by weight and a slag phase is produced which is separated from the matte. Under these conditions cheap fluxes (e.g., sand, limestone, iron oxide) can be used whereby the resulting slag has a relatively low corrosivity and high melting point (e.g., 1150 DEG -12000 DEG C.) without excessive losses of bismuth by volatilization.