Thermodynamic behavior of bismuth in copper pyrometallurgy: Molten matte,white metal and blister copper phases

This study developed thermodynamic data relating to the behavior of bismuth in copper smelting, converting and refining processes. The activity of bismuth was set by establishing a known vapor pressure of bismuth over melts of various phases. The melts were equilibrated with the vapor, and the resulting bismuth content used to establish bismuth activity coefficients. Experiments were carried out, under controlled oxygen potentials, at 1200 and 1250 °C. Results show that bismuth deviates positively from Raoult's Law at both 1200 and 1250 °C in copper (γ_Bi = 2.17, 2.27), white metal (γ_Bi = 6.1, 6.1), Cu₂S with 2 wt pct FeS (γ_Bi = 8.0, 8.0), Cu₂S with 4 to 6 wt pct FeS (γ_Bii = 16.4, 16.4) and Cu2S with 8 to 70 wt pct FeS (γ_Bi = 13.6, 13.6), respectively. Sabri Arac formerly Research Assistant at University of Arizona Gordon H. Geiger formerly head of the Department of Metallurgical Engineering at the University of Arizona