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Susana Díaz Merino Technical English II Mining Operations

The document discusses the copper converting process. It describes converting as a process that treats molten metal sulfides to produce crude metal and slag. The copper converting process occurs in a Pierce-Smith converter and involves two stages - the first blow where slag is discharged, and the second blow where blister copper, the final product, is formed through oxidation. The aim of converting is to eliminate iron and sulfur from matte through the addition of flux and oxidation at high temperatures.

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110 views15 pages

Susana Díaz Merino Technical English II Mining Operations

The document discusses the copper converting process. It describes converting as a process that treats molten metal sulfides to produce crude metal and slag. The copper converting process occurs in a Pierce-Smith converter and involves two stages - the first blow where slag is discharged, and the second blow where blister copper, the final product, is formed through oxidation. The aim of converting is to eliminate iron and sulfur from matte through the addition of flux and oxidation at high temperatures.

Uploaded by

natalia
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Susana Díaz Merino

Technical English II
Mining Operations
 Converting Process
 RAF

 Test May 27th


 Converting Process
 Slag
 Matte
 Flux
 Tuyeres
 Blown
 Blister
 Peirce Smith converter
 Hood
 What is converting process?
 What is blister?
 What is first blow and second blow?
 Converting is a type of metallurgical smelting that includes
several processes; the most commercially important form is
the treatment of molten metal sulfides to produce crude metal
and slag, as in the case of copper and nickel converting.

 Matte: is a mixture of metal sulfides and some metal.

 Slag: impurities formed and separated when a metal is smelted


from ore.
 Flux: refers to a chemical cleaning agent, flowing agent, or
purifying agent. Fluxes may have more than one function at a
time. They are used in both extractive metallurgy and metal
joining.

 Tuyeres> is a tube or pipe through which air is blown into a


furnace or hearth.

 Blow > To be in a state of motion. Used of the air or of wind.

 Blister > final product of copper converting process.


 Copper converting consists of three phases:

◦ A) Gases: Rich in SO2.

◦ B) Matte (Metal blanco): Rich in Copper Sulphides,


Iron Sulphides and other metals as Gold and Silver.

◦ C) Slag: Rich in oxides.

Considering the three phases , the most important is


matte, because is in this phase where copper is
concentrated.
 The smelted matte is treated in a converter for the
copper converting process . The aim is to obtain final
product of copper converting process (blister)

 Converting process is carried out in two stages in the


same reactor, first and second blow. (batch process)

 The stages are called “first blow” or “slag blow” and


“second blow” or “blister blow”.
 The main goal of converting process is to eliminate
the iron and sulphur in the matte in order to produce
copper of 98,5% to 99,5% of purity.

 To eliminate the iron and sulphur in the matte, flux


(mainly silica) is added into the converter.

 This goal, is achieved by the oxidation of the liquid


matte with air plus oxygen, at high temperatures
between 1550 and 1250 ºC.
First stage “first blow” or “slag blow”.
The first portion of slag is discharged off the converter, a new

portion of matte is charged, and the converting operation is


repeated many times until the converter is filled with the purified
copper sulfide.

Second stage “second blow” or “blister blow”.


The second stage of converting is aimed at oxidizing the copper
sulfide phase, thus blister copper is the final product of converting.
Converting Process Gases

CPS (converter pierce smith) FeO (Slag)

First blow
Smelted matte (Cu2S-FeS) Cu2S

Discharged slag

Gases
Second blow Cu2S
Cu° (Blister)

Discharged blister
Converting process
 This is a rotary, refractory-lined, horizontal steel drum
with an opening at the center of the top for charging
and discharging and a row of tuyeres across the back
through which air, or oxygen can be blown.
 1. Converting process is ….

 2. Copper converting consists of three phases


…
 3. The stages in copper converting are…

 4. What is «blister»

 5. In converting process the most common


type of converter is …

 6. The aim in a converter machine is…

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