Deportment of bismuth, nickel, lead, cobalt, gold and silver

Abstract

The project was carried out to assess the distribution of impurities during the converting stage. The assays of these impurities are summarized into a mass/material balance to account for all elements of interest. These metals are bismuth, silver, gold, nickel, lead and cobalt and the balance were carried out over the converter. Samples were collected from various strategic points of streams such as at the matte settling furnace tap, converter mouth and under a ventilation discharge pipe. These were then taken to the laboratory for analysis. The results obtained showed that these metals occur in very small quantities although they might have some negative effect on the production of copper. These results were given in percentages. From the conclusion, it will be seen that the metals of interest are a very small fraction of the whole mass of materials in and out of the converter. Among the elements of interest it can be observed that cobalt occurs in larger amounts than others. Otherwise various amounts depend on the type of blend carried out on a particular blow. In particular, flue dust particles contain bismuth. Recommendation will be made that the next time the project is proposed it should be extended from the concentrate shed were blending occurs to the smelter section. Perhaps it can further be extended to the refinery section were effects are felt. The best way to control high levels of these impurities is to apply evaporative precipitation.