Entrainment behavior of copper and copper matte in copper smelting operations

In copper smelting, the loss of copper to the slag due to entrainment is largely influenced by the flotation of copper metal and/or matte in the slag phase. To evaluate this behavior, the surface tension of copper as a function of temperature and oxygen pressure and the interfacial tension of the copper-iron matte-slag system as a function of matte grade were measured. From the surface and interfacial tension values, the spreading and flotation coefficients of the copper, matte, and slag system were calculated. Ternary interfacial energy diagrams were also con-structed using these data. It is shown that matte droplets containing higher than 32 mass pct Cu will not form a film on rising gas bubbles when they collide in the slag phase. However, matte droplets will attach to gas bubbles upon collision and thus can be floated over the entire range of matte composition. Spreading of copper on bubbles is not possible at oxygen pressures between 10⁻¹² and 10⁻⁸ atm. Flotation of copper by gas bubble in slag is possible at oxygen pressure higher than 10⁻⁹ atm. However, it is feasible for rising matte droplets (attached to rising bubble) to trap and float copper irrespective of the matte grade.