Characterization and Pyrometallurgical Removal of Arsenic from Copper Concentrate Roasting Dust ()
1. Introduction
Worldwide, sulfide concentrates of copper, gold, and nickel with high arsenic content are treated in roasting furnaces, obtaining calcines with low concentrations of arsenic. The obtained calcine is appropriate for further metallurgical operations for the recovery of valuable metals [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]. In Chile, a copper concentrate with a high content of arsenic is roasted in a fluidized bed furnace, which processes 600 kilotons of copper concentrate per year, generating an off-gas rich in arsenic that during the process of gas cooling produce 26 kilotons of fine particles of dust (RP dust) [6] [7]. This dust is collected in electrostatic precipitators [6] [7] [8] and further processed by hydrometallurgical techniques allowing to recover copper and other valuable metals [6] [7]. The arsenic dissolved when the leaching process is disposed of as a precipitate of scorodite [6] [7].
The literature described the treatment of dust by the hydrometallurgy process. It is reported a low recovery of copper (60 - 70 wt%), a considerable generation of solid residues (around 40 wt% of the original material) [9] [10], and requirement of high consumption of chemicals materials. In addition, there is uncertainty regarding the long-term stability of the scorodite or other solid heavy metal residues generated [1] [11] [12]. In terms of stability, it reports that the fixation of arsenic as a glassy material is the best option just as it keeps the arsenic stable for geological periods.
To produce a glassy residue, it is desirable a waste material with a high concentration of arsenic oxides [1] [11]. Pyrometallurgical treatment of RP dust has the potential to increase the recovery of copper (and other valuable metals), reduce solid residues, and generate condensed gases with a high concentration of arsenic oxides [13] [14] [15] [16] [17].
In a recent publication, it was demonstrated the technical possibility of pyro-metallurgical volatilizing arsenic from a Flash Smelting Furnace dust [13]. However, there are no reported studies related to the characterization of dust from the roasting of sulfur concentrates with high arsenic content or works related to the volatilization of arsenic from roasting metallurgical dust. Thus, the main aim of this work is to characterize the RP dust. Additionally, the work evaluated, at a laboratory scale operation, parameters such as temperature, roasting time, and gas atmospheres necessary for arsenic volatilization in mixtures of copper concentrate/RP dust, sulfur/RP dust, or pyrrhotite/RP dust.
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Copper Concentrate with a High Concentration of Arsenic
An essential section of this work comprises roasting experiments of copper concentrate mixtures with a high concentration of arsenic and RP dust. The characterization and roasting behavior of this concentrate was reported in a previous paper [13]. The concentrate sample indicated arsenic contained in minerals of enargite/tennantite (Cu3AsS4/Cu12As4S13). The main observed minerals were Chalcocite/Digenite, Enargite/Tennantite, and Pyrite, in minor proportion are present Chalcopyrite and Bornite. The elemental chemical composition is included in Table 1.
2.2. Characterization of the RP Dust
The experimental set worked on the dust collected from the electrostatic precipitators of a Bed Roasting Furnace (RP dust). Thus, a number of analysis were carried out to determine in the sample the size distribution, mineralogical composition, distribution of arsenic in each of the phases and elemental composition.
Table 1 displays the elemental composition by Atomic Adsorption Spectroscopy (AAS) (AAS Perkin Elmer, Model: PinAAcle 900F Flame) analysis, reporting a concentration of copper of 17.2 (wt%) and a concentration of arsenic of 4.4 wt%. Quantitative data collected for the arsenic concentration by AAS analysis will be used in future calculations. This table also includes the concentration of copper with a high concentration of arsenic used in the experiments.
Table 2 shows the results obtained using a Quantitative Evaluation of Minerals by Scanning Electron Microscopy QEMSCAN (TSCAN, Model: VEGA3 LM). Arsenic is present as a multi-component material of Cu-Fe-As-S-O and chenevixite, copper as bornite and Chalcocite/Digenite. The sample also contains micas, quartz among other minor components.
Figure 1 exhibits the size distribution of an RP dust obtained by using hydro cyclone sizers, indicating that 99.4 wt% of the sample corresponds to size under 53 μm and 88 wt% to size under 10 μm.
Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis SEM/EDS (SEM: Zeiss Evo Model: MA10, EDS: Oxford X-Act, Detector BS, Software INCA) were used to determine the phases present in the RP dust. Figure 2 includes SEM micrographs, and Table 3 summarizes the elemental chemical composition of
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Table 1. Atomic Absorption (AAS) elemental chemical analysis of RP dust (wt%) or (ppm).
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Figure 1. RP dust sample particles size distribution.
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Figure 2. Scanning electron micrograph of RP dust (A) EDS analyzed points 1, 2 and 3 reported in Table 3, (B) EDS analyzed points 4 and 5 reported in Table 3.
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Table 2. QEMSCAN analysis of RP dust (analysis conditions: Probe current = 4.55 nA, beam intensity: 25 kV).
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Table 3. SEM/EDS analysis of RP dust (analysis condition: Acceleration voltage = 15 kV, beam current = 11 nA).
the selected points analyzed by EDS (note: the balance to 100 wt% correspond to oxygen). The analyses indicated that the particles have a few microns in size, and some of them appear as agglomerates, there are no appreciable visual differences between the particles or indication of any crystal formation. In addition, as indicated in the results of Table 3, it is difficult to assign crystals compositions to the analyzed points by EDS, which is an indication that the RP dust corresponds mostly to amorphous polymetallic sulfoxide.
The result of the X-ray diffraction (XRD) (XRD STOE, Model: STADI_MP, Detector DECTRIS MYThem 1K, Database Match) analysis is presented in Figure 3, which shows an amorphous material with the presence of a few peaks corresponding to complex phases of Cu-Fe-S-As-Al as gartrellite, johillerite, and kidwellite. A qualitative agreement exists between the results of QEMSCAN, SEM/EDS, XRD regarding the presence in the sample of Si-Fe-Cu-S-As-Al-O-K-Cl-Sb complex oxides described as Chenevixite, bornite, gartrellite, johillerite, and kidwellite.
2.3. Experimental Equipment and Method for Arsenic Volatilization
The experiments carried out used the same copper concentrate, equipment, and procedure previously described [13] with a reactor built from boron silicate glass to resist temperatures of 750˚C, with a sintered glass disk (fritted) forming the base of the reactor bed. All experiments realized achieved a homogeneous mixture between the gases and the sample, maintained a stable temperature and allowed similar operating conditions of an industrial fluidized bed roaster. 5 g of silica was as used as a bed on the fritted, and the total weight of the sample was 5 grams of copper concentrate or elemental sulfur mixed with RP dust. The sample was placed on top of the silica bed. The reactor was held inside a muffle preheated to 200˚C. During the tests, the temperature of the reactor kept a range between 600˚C and 700˚C, with a gas (air, nitrogen, or SO2) flow of 10 ml/min. The select flow of gases created the conditions of a fluidized bed in the reactor. Once the roasting time finished, the sample was extracted from the reactor and separated in a screen of 100 μm. The oversized material contained the silica, and the undersize consisted of the calcined sample.
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Figure 3. XRD analysis of RP dust (analysis conditions: t/step = 17 s, step = 2.1, 2θ = 10 - 100, time = 15 min).
The percentage of volatilization of species (X) was defined as:
% Volatilization X = 100x ([wt% X] Initial – [wt% X] final)/[wt% X] initial (1)
where [wt% X] initial is the measured concentration of arsenic (or antimony) in the charged sample and [wt% X] final is the measured concentration of arsenic (or antimony) after the roasting process.
3. Results
Results of a Roasted Mixture of Copper Concentrate/RP Dust
Preliminary roasting experiments were performed at different conditions of mixtures of copper concentrate/RP dust at 700˚C. The temperature was selected according to the results obtained in the previous paper [13], where at 700˚C was observed the highest arsenic volatilization for the copper concentrate. The results indicated in Figure 4 includes a mass balance for the calculation considering volatilization of arsenic of zero from the RP dust in a mixture of concentrate/RP dust, the results are indicated in this figure as squares while the experimental results of the mixture concentrate/RP dust as circles. By comparing the lines of trends, it is possible to state that only for mixtures with ratios of copper concentrate/FS dust above 50/50 a significant volatilization of arsenic was obtained. It is interesting to observe that FS dust [13] and RP dust mixed with copper concentrate show similar behavior, for mixtures with ratios lower than 30/70, the volatilization of arsenic is negligible. Thus, from an operational point of view, a large proportion of copper concentrate would be required to volatilize the arsenic contained in the RP dust.
Based on the results of Figure 4, a set of experiments were carried out for the mixture of copper concentrate/RP dust in a ratio of 75/25, under a roasting time of 15 minutes, varying the temperature in the range of 600 to 700 degrees. The experimental conditions, results of AAS chemical analysis of arsenic and volatilization of arsenic are included in Table 4. The table also comprises experiments for a mixture of sulfur/RP dust in a weight ratio of 5/95.
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Figure 4. Volatilization of arsenic for different ratios of copper concentrate/RP dust mixture at 700˚C and 15 minutes of volatilization.
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Table 4. Volatilization of arsenic for a mixture of copper concentrate/RP dust of 75/25 and Sulfur/RP dust of 5/95, under different temperatures and roasting times.
Table 5 summarizes the experimental results obtained at the conditions of 700˚C and 15 minutes. Additional experiments of mixtures of Fe7S8/RP and gas flow of nitrogen, air and SO2 gases are included in the table. This set of experiments included the chemical analysis and volatilization of As and Sb. The results
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Table 5. Composition and arsenic volatilization for different samples and mixtures at 700˚C and roasting time of 15 minutes.
*Experiments included in Table 4.
in Table 5 indicated negligible arsenic volatilization for the RP dust in atmospheres of nitrogen, air, and SO2. The antimony reached volatilizations of 29, 33, 45 wt% in the mentioned atmospheres, respectively. The pyrrhotite/RP dust mixture under the air atmosphere obtained negligible volatilization of arsenic and antimony. For copper concentrate/RP dust mixture achieved volatilization of arsenic of 96% by weight with low volatilization of antimony, close to 28 wt. The sulfur/RP dust mixture showed significant volatilization of arsenic and antimony in both atmospheres, air, and nitrogen.
4. Discussion
The experimental results of Table 4 for the mixture of the copper concentrate/RP dust were represented in Figure 5, indicating a strong dependence on the volatilization of arsenic with temperature and roasting time. Arsenic volatilization above 90% was obtained at temperatures of 700˚C and a roasting time of 15 minutes.
Figure 6 represents the experimental results for a reaction time of 15 minutes for the mixture of the copper concentrate/RP dust (corresponding to experiments numbers 4, 8 and 13 of Table 4). The results indicated a strong dependence of volatilization of arsenic with temperature. The figure also include the experimental results for a reaction time of 15 minutes for the mixture of the copper sulfur/RP dust (corresponding to experiments numbers 14 - 17), arsenic peaked at approximately 65 wt% at 650˚C, higher temperature values did not show any increment in the arsenic volatilization for this mixture. The figure also indicates a concentration of arsenic below 0.5 wt% for concentrate/RP dust at 700˚C. Concentration of around 1.5 wt% at 700˚C for sulfur/RP dust the is quite
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Figure 5. Relationship between the volatilization of arsenic and roasting time for a weight ratio of a mixture concentrate/RP dust of 75/25 at temperatures of 600˚C, 650˚C and 700˚C.
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Figure 6. Volatilization of arsenic from mixtures of copper concentrate/RP dust and Sulfur/RP dust vs. temperature.
high for recycling of the roasted in a smelting furnace. Further studies are recommended to improve the arsenic volatilization of the sulfur/RP dust mixtures; a line of research is tests higher ratios of sulfur/RP dust.
The reaction mechanism of sulfidation-decomposition-oxidation proposed by SEM/EDS analysis in roasted mixtures with RP dust could not be confirmed. The results obtained indicate the absence of clear enargite/tennantite crystals. However, as indicated in Table 5, the experiment with nitrogen and air atmospheres for the sulfur/RP dust mixture showed remarkably similar results (about 65%) of arsenic volatilization for both tests. These results can be compared with those reported in the same table for RP dust roasted in a nitrogen (or air) atmosphere without the presence of sulfur, where a zero volatilization of arsenic was obtained. Therefore, it is possible to infer a process of sulfidation-volatilization of arsenic. However, verification of the reaction mechanism may be subject to further study. In addition, some questions require answers: why the mixtures of copper concentrate/RP dust reached highest arsenic volatilization, opposite to the pyrrhotite/RP dust where zero volatilization of arsenic was obtaines? What is the reason to explain that the volatilization of arsenic for the mixture concentrate/Flash Smelting dust is only 10% as indicated in a previous study (13), compared with 65% for the concentrate/RP dust?
5. Conclusions
The characterization of RP dust indicated a morphological and crystalline composition different from Flash Smelting dust. The RP dust is composed of fine agglomerated particles (88 wt% < 10 µm) while the Flash Smelting dust is composed of particles with sizes between 10 and 100. The RP dust corresponds to amorphous materials and polymetallic sulfoxide, the Flash Smelting dust contains particles with a glassy matrix and crystals of iron oxides (hematite/magnetite).
Comparing the experimental results for the processing of RP dust with Flash Smelting dust, concentrate/Flash Smelting dust reached volatilization of arsenic of more than 90% at a low roasting temperature of 600˚C, in contrast, a mixture of copper concentrate/RP dust required a roasting temperature of 700˚C to achieve similar arsenic volatilization. Despite the morphological and mineralogical differences between the RP dust and Flash Smelting dust, for a roasting temperature of 700˚C it is possible to obtain roasting products of >0.3 wt% of arsenic. Thus, RP dust and Flash Smelting dust roasted with copper concentrate are appropriate materials to be recirculated into a smelting process. The combined process of roasting of concentrate/dust and recycling in smelting has the potential to significantly reduce the tons of toxic solid waste and increase the recovery of valuable metals.
An option is recycling RP dust and Flash Smelting dust into a high arsenic concentrate fluidized bed roasting furnace. However, due to the size of the dust, operational inconveniences in the gas cleaning system and sulfuric acid production equipment can be caused. Thus, this work recommends the construction of an independent roasting furnace for the treatment of metallurgical RP dust and Flash Smelting dust.
Given the promissory results obtained with two kinds of metallurgical dust in the elimination of arsenic, it is reasonable to extend the investigation results for a similar treatment for the dust generated in the process of roasting high arsenic gold, nickel and lead-zinc concentrates.
An additional line of research corresponds to explore the recovery of silver in the gas phase in view of the differences of temperature of precipitation of compounds of silver comparing with compounds of arsenic and antimony.
The paramount importance to complement the present work is to research the fixation of the residual arsenic (antimony and bismuth) in a glassy slags matrix.
Authors’ Contributions
Author Contributions: conceptualization, Héctor Henao, R. Diaz and J. Ortiz; methodology, Héctor Henao, formal analysis, Héctor Henao, R. Diaz; investigation, Héctor Henao, Ignacio Paredes, resources, R. Diaz and J. Ortiz, writing and editing, Héctor Henao, supervision, Héctor Henao, R. Diaz2 and J. Ortiz, funding acquisition, R. Diaz and J. Ortiz.Funding: Author Contributions: conceptualization, Héctor Henao, R. Diaz and J. Ortiz; methodology, Héctor Henao, formal analysis, Héctor Henao, R. Diaz; investigation, Héctor Henao, Ignacio Paredes, resources, R. Diaz and J. Ortiz, writing and editing, Héctor Henao, supervision, Héctor Henao, R. Diaz2 and J. Ortiz, funding acquisition, R. Diaz and J. Ortiz.