TY - GEN
T1 - Decomposition/volatilization of enargite in Nitrogen - Oxygen atmosphere
AU - Padilla, Rafael
AU - Aracena, Alvaro
AU - Ruiz, Maria Cristina
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - Enargite (Cu3AsS4) occurs as impurity in most Chilean copper sulfide minerals. However, when enargite content in copper concentrates is high (>1.5%), smelting of such a concentrate produces pollution problems and contamination of the final copper with arsenic. Thus understanding the behavior of enargite at high temperatures is crucial. In this paper, research data is discussed on the decomposition/volatilization of natural enargite mineral in nitrogen and oxygen-containing atmospheres by thermogravimetry and DTA analyses. The results indicated that enargite decomposes in nitrogen through intermediate tenantite to form Cu2S in the range 600-900°C. However, in the presence of oxygen, enargite reacts forming CuO as final product. Temperature affects significantly the arsenic volatilization rate in inert and oxidizing atmospheres. At 900°C in pure nitrogen, 95 % arsenic volatilized in 15 min, while in the presence of 10 % oxygen, 95% of arsenic volatilized in 6 min. At higher oxygen concentration, the rate is even faster.
AB - Enargite (Cu3AsS4) occurs as impurity in most Chilean copper sulfide minerals. However, when enargite content in copper concentrates is high (>1.5%), smelting of such a concentrate produces pollution problems and contamination of the final copper with arsenic. Thus understanding the behavior of enargite at high temperatures is crucial. In this paper, research data is discussed on the decomposition/volatilization of natural enargite mineral in nitrogen and oxygen-containing atmospheres by thermogravimetry and DTA analyses. The results indicated that enargite decomposes in nitrogen through intermediate tenantite to form Cu2S in the range 600-900°C. However, in the presence of oxygen, enargite reacts forming CuO as final product. Temperature affects significantly the arsenic volatilization rate in inert and oxidizing atmospheres. At 900°C in pure nitrogen, 95 % arsenic volatilized in 15 min, while in the presence of 10 % oxygen, 95% of arsenic volatilized in 6 min. At higher oxygen concentration, the rate is even faster.
KW - Arsenic
KW - Decomposition
KW - Enargite
KW - Volatilization
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77952350759&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:77952350759
SN - 9780873397513
T3 - TMS Annual Meeting
SP - 497
EP - 504
BT - TMS 2010 - 139th Annual Meeting and Exhibition - Supplemental Proceedings
T2 - TMS 2010 - 139th Annual Meeting and Exhibition
Y2 - 14 February 2010 through 18 February 2010
ER -