Method for treating sulfide raw materials

摘要

The present invention relates to the field of non-ferrous metallurgy and more specifically to methods for treating sulfide raw materials. The method comprises an autogenous smelting of the raw materials with flux additions in a blast furnace, where a quartz layer 0.3 to 1.5 m high is provided immediately above the tuyeres of the furnace. The smelting process is conducted with oxygen-enriched air blowing with an oxygen consumption of 300 to 400 m3/tonne of sulfide material. The smelting method produces matte suitable for subsequent converting, elemental sulfur, and off-gases containing 8 to 25% SO2. The method can be applied for copper and copper-nickel production.