Institute of Metallurgy at the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Yekaterinburg, Russia:

E. N. Selivanov, Head of Laboratory, Doctor of Technical Sciences
D. O. Novikov, Junior Researcher, Postgraduate Student, e-mail: dm93nvk@gmail.com

UMMC Technical University, Verkhnyaya Pyshma, Russia¹ ; Strategic Planning Department at UMMC Holding LLC, Verkhnyaya Pyshma, Russia²:

V. V. Belyaev, Associate Professor¹, Head of the Metallurgy Department², Candidate of Technical Sciences
G. V. Skopov, Professor¹, Principal Specialist², Doctor of Technical Sciences

The existing techniques for arsenic immobilization, as well as for the storage and neutralization of arsenic-containing waste do not always comply with the current regulations specifying raw materials utilization and environmental protection. Till now, no efficient processes have been identified for arsenic separation in copper pyrometallurgical practice. Due to deteriorated quality of produced concentrates, arsenic circulates and accumulates in copper middlings affecting the quality of metal and sulphuric acid. A technique has been developed related to the pyrometallurgical processing of copper-zinc concentrates, which is based on determining the weight of arsenic during each process stage and distributing it between liquid, solid and gaseous products. The technique is based on stage-by-stage balance equations defining the distribution of iron, copper and arsenic. The obtained data were used to analyse the extraction of arsenic with particular products (slag, matte, powder, etc.). The paper looks at the chemical composition of the raw materials and products of Sredneuralsk Copper Smelter LLC to demonstrate that arsenic is mainly found in autogenous smelter dust (35.2%) and sulphuric acid slurries (~40%), where it comes in the form of oxides (As₂O₃ and Cu₂As₂O₇) and sulphides (As₂S₃). A relatively high temperature in the electrofilter of an autogenous smelter leads to a partial transfer of arsenic into the gas stream going to the sulphuric acid plant. Less arsenic is found in slag flotation tailings (11.7%) and metallic copper (2.9%). Using these findings, one can analyse the possibility of arsenic redistribution between the products and also to justify measures to help inhibit its penetration in the environment. This research was carried out under a Governmental Assignment of the Institute of Metallurgy at the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences as part of the Basic Research Programme for State Academies.

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