Experimental investigation of gas/slag/matte/tridymite equilibria in the Cu–Fe–O–S–Si system in controlled gas atmosphere at T = 1 200 °C and P(SO2) = 0.1 atm

Abstract

AbstractThe effects of partial pressure of sulphur dioxide on the gas/slag/matte/tridymite equilibria in the Cu–Fe–O–S–Si system at 1 200 °C have been experimentally investigated and compared with the previous studies at various P(SO2). The experimental procedure includes equilibration of the sample and silica substrate at high temperature for the designated time, rapid quenching to preserve the equilibrium phases, followed by measuring the composition of the condensed phases with electron probe X-ray microanalysis. A set of graphs were constructed to present the compositions of slag and matte as a function of copper concentration in matte. The present study confirmed that the chemically dissolved copper and sulphur for the given Cu in matte are independent of the partial pressure of SO2. However, the experimentally measured liquidus (Fe/SiO2) are different for various P(SO2). The new data provide an important, accurate and reliable quantitative foundation for improvement of the thermodynamic databases for the chemical systems containing copper matte and slag. The present study is a part of a broader overall research program on the characterisation of the multi component (Cu–Fe–O–S–Si–Al–Ca–Mg), multi-phase (gas/slag/matte/metal/solids) systems with minor elements.