From the metallurgical and practical viewpoints, removal of copper from Pb-Cu alloy is one of the important reaction in lead refining process. Concerning this, the author measured directly the equilibrium constant of equation (A) using a porcelain crucible in evacuated quartz tube at the temperature range from 420° to 800°. Cu
2S(S)+Pb(l) \
ightleftarrows2
Cu(in l-Pb) +PbS(s)............ \ agA When the two phases of Cu
2S and PbS exist in the melt, the equilibrium constant for the reaction (A) is expressed as follows: logK_Cu = log[% Cu]^2 From the experimental results, the following equation is obtained as the temperature function of the equilibrium constant. logK_Cu = -2910.4/T+2.280; ΔF° = 13.301-10.420 T When the melt is saturated with Cu
2S and PbS remains in the melt, the equilibrium constant for the reaction (A) is expressed as follows: logK_Cu-S = log[% Cu]^2 [% S] From the experimental results, the next relation is also obtained. logK_Cu-S = -4442.8/T+3.378; ΔF°=20.304-15.44 T Further, the saturated value of %
Cu can be calculated by combining the free energy change of the next three equations. Cu
2S (S) + H
2 \
ightleftarrowsH
2S + 2 Cu (s)
PbS(S) + H
2 \
ightleftarrowsH
2S + Pb(l)
Cu(S) \
ightleftarrows
Cu(in 1-Pb) Comparison of these calculated values with the experimental values shows comparatively good agreement.
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