METHOD FOR DECREASING METAL LOSSES IN NONFERROUS SMELTING OPERATIONS

摘要

The present invention provides a method for producing metal matte from a nonferrous metal-containing sulfide mineral concentrate in a horizontally disposed furnace wherein a molten charge of metal matte and a slag are present, beneath an enclosed hot atmosphere, and exhaust gases, metal matte, and slag are separately discharged therefrom, the improvement wherein loss of nonferrous metals is averted comprising: (a) introducing a sulfide concentrate containing at least one nonferrous metal selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel and cobalt, and minor but important quantities of minor elements selected from the group consisting of antimony, arsenic, bismuth, cadmium, germanium, mercury, molybdenum, rhenium, tin and zinc; flux and an oxygenrich gas into an enclosed hot sulfur dioxide-rich atmosphere so as to effect flash oxidation of said sulfide concentrate therein prior to contact of said concentrate with the molten slag, a major portion of said sulfide concentrate and oxygen-rich gas being injected as a mixture through a plurality of vertically disposed burners on said furnace said enclosed sulfur dioxide-rich hot atmosphere as a plurality of paraboloidal suspensions; (b) producing a metal matte containing more than 50% by weight of said nonferrous metal of the group above defined; and (c) exhausting gas from the furnace which contains more than 20% sulfur dioxide by volume and a major portion of said minor elements.