Modeling of accessory element distribution in copper smelting process

A computer model has been developed to simulate the distribution behaviors of Ni, Co, Sn, Pb, Zn, As, Sb, Bi, Au and Ag in the copper smelting process, matte converting process and copper continuous smelting process. It can be predicted for any set of controllable process parameters such as feed composition, smelting temperature, degree of oxygen enrichment and volume of oxygen enriched air. This model accounts for physical entrainment in the melts. It can be used in the copper flash smelting process, Mitsubishi process and Noranda process. The predictions by the present computer model are compared with the known commercial data from the Guixi Smelter in China, the Horne Smelter in Canada and the Naoshima Smelter in Japan. The agreement between the computer predictions and the commercial data is excellent. In this paper, the effects of oxygen enrichment, matte grade, and smelting temperature on accessory-element behavior have been elucidated.