Application of Electroextraction in Removing Copper from Molten Iron

An innovative attempt of applying electrochemical method in solving the residual copper challenge in iron and steel was proposed in this paper. The ionic conductivity of the sulfide slag has been found in study of copper removal from iron-based melt by Na2S–FeS system. A DC electric field was applied between sulfide melt and iron melt, which could electrolyze the product Cu2S, so that the activity of Cu2S in the sulfide slag was reduced and the selective sulfurization of copper in the iron was promoted. The cathodic process was studied by Voltammetry test and Potentiostatic electrolysis test, the results indicated that the Faradaic reactions indeed occurred and the directional mass transfer of copper was promoted by applying the electric field. In the results of copper removal test by electroextraction, the applied DC electric field broke the interface reaction equilibrium between sulfide slag and copper bearing carbon saturated iron melt and reduced the copper content significantly.