Distribution Equilibria for Ni, Co, As, Sb and Cu between Matte and Slag

Abstract

Distribution ratios for Ni, Co, As and Sb between silica-saturated slag and matte were determined at 1300° under a current of 1 or 10 per cent SO₂ gas. As illustrated in Figs.1 and 2, these elements tend to cocnentrate in matte phase, but to be oxidized into slag at higher matte grade corresponding to higher oxygen potentials. As shown in Fig. 3, dissolution of copper in slag is greatly influenced by the contents of sulphur and lime in slag, and is reasonably explained by complexdi ssolutions of oxidic and sulphidic copper in slag. The similar explanation is successfully adopted also for distribution behaviour of nickel. Combining the present data with those obtained previously under metal saturation, the effects of oxygen potential and matte grade on the distribution ratios are discussed.