Kinetics of Desulfurization of Iron and Copper Sulfides by Steam.

When converting iron and copper mattes, it is advantageous to supply steam to the blast, which may ensure a smaller rise in temperature in the reaction zone. To select optimal composition of the blast the knowledge of the kinetic characteristics of the process of matte desulfurization by steam is necessary. The paper considers the effect of the content of water vapors in the gas phase, concentration of sulfur in the condensed phase, and temperature on the rate of desulfurization of iron and copper oxides. A relationship between the rates of desulfurization of the sulfides and the partial pressure of steam is established. The rate of process does not depend on the concentration of sulfur in the sulfide-metallic phase.