DIRECT REDUCTION OF SARCHESHME COPPER SULFIDE CONCENTRATE WITH CARBON IN THE PRESENCE OF LIME

Abstract: The direct reduction of copper sulfide concentrate from Iranian Sarcheshme deposits with carbon in the presence of lime was investigated in the temperature range of 800-1000 ºC. The reduction kinetics was determined by means of weight loss measurements. It was found that the rate of reaction increased considerably with increasing the temperature. The kinetics was also improved when large excesses of lime and carbon were present in the mixture. The effects of catalytic additives of Na2CO3 and K2CO3 were also investigated. It was realized that the rate of reaction increased by higher concentrations of additives. X-ray diffraction analysis of reduced samples revealed that sulfur was fixed as solid CaS, and metallic copper was formed.