Distribution behavior of non-ferrous metals of Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Co, Na and Ca between matte and slag in industrial copper matte smelting of low grade secondary materials was studied by statistical analysis in order to obtain guiding principle of copper matte smelting for the recovery of rare metals such as nickel or cobalt. The distribution ratio of iron was used as a measure of oxygen partial pressure in this study. Because the distribution ratios of copper and lead were inversely proportional to that of iron, high grade copper matte is obtainable from the low grade secondary materials. This indicates that the concentration operation of rare metals in copper matte, i.e., efficient recovery of rare metals, is possible in the copper matte smelting of low grade secondary materials. In contrast, the distribution ratio of Na was proportional to that of iron despite the fact that the standard Gibbs free energy changes of reactions from sulfide to oxide of Cu and Na are very close each other; this suggests that unnecessary Na can be easily removed from the copper matte. Concentration variation of halogens and alkali metals in the charge strongly affected on the concentration of lead and calcium in matte, and copper and sulfur in slag; therefore, removal of halogens and alkali metals in the charge is effective to suppress unexpected variation of distribution ratio of non-ferrous metals between matte and slag.
