Chair of Non-Ferrous Metals and Gold, National University of Science and Technology “MISiS”, Moscow, Russia:

V. P. Bystrov, Leading Expert
I. E. Gladyuk, First Category Engineer, e-mail: gladukilya@gmail.com

Modern trends in copper production are carried out in conditions of widespread implementation of autogenous processes. These processes are carried out by oxidation of sulfide materials, using pure or oxygen-enriched blast. Application of these processes makes possible to reduce the total volume of waste gases with high content of sulfur dioxide, which is the main source of sulfuric acid. According to this, the process efficiency is increased considerably. It is also necessary to maximize the total separation of the products (slag, matte, dusts, gases) and the decline in the share of losses of copper and other valuable components. Complex physical and chemical transformations in the steel furnace are defined by certain peculiarities of autogenous processes, such as high temperature, large contact surface of condensed and gaseous phases with efficient bubbling baths, etc. Promising technology for smelting of rich matte defines a number of questions, regarding the stability boundaries of melting process in order to avoid over-oxidation. The part of behavior of magnetite in changing potential of the system is actualized, since it is known that magnetite content is increased in the slag during the preparation of rich matte. In this regard, development of the defined methodology for assessment of behavior of the concentrate components plays an important role. This article gives the results of research of behavior of components in the process of heating of concentrate in neutral or oxidizing atmosphere. These results were obtained by differential thermal analysis. In general, the use of modern differential thermal analysis is an important stage of research for optimization of process parameters' melting.

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