Distributions of As, Pb, Sn and Zn as minor elements between iron silicate slag and copper in equilibrium with tridymite in the Cu–Fe–O–Si system

Abstract

Abstract The distributions of arsenic, lead, tin and zinc between iron silicate slag and copper in equilibrium with tridymite in the Cu–Fe–O–Si system have been experimentally determined at selected oxygen partial pressures (P(O2)) at temperatures of 1 523 K and 1 573 K. The experimental technique involved high temperature equilibration in a sealed silica ampoule to minimize the vaporization of minor elements, rapid quenching of the condensed phases, and the direct composition measurements of the condensed phases using microanalysis techniques. The effective P(O2)s of the samples were determined based on the measured Cu2O concentrations in slag. The new experimental data resolve discrepancies found in previous studies and have been used in the development of a new thermodynamic database of the Cu–Fe–O–Si system containing minor elements.