Continuous cleaning process of molten copper slags in a channel reactor under the external electric field

Abstract

Continuous cleaning process of the molten copper slags in a channel reactor under a vertical electric field is proposed. The copper-matte settling velocity under the vertical electric field is much faster than that only under the gravity in the molten slags, and the electric field can also accelerate the magnetite reduction. Cu content in the slag can fall below 0.35 wt. % during the continuous cleaning process, which exceeds much more existing slag treatment process. In addition, the behaviours of some other heavy metal elements in the molten slags during the continuous process are also discussed.