Multiphase equilibrium modeling of oxygen bottom-blown copper smelting process

A computational thermodynamics model for the oxygen bottom-blown copper smelting process (Shuikoushan, SKS process) was established, based on the SKS smelting characteristics and theory of Gibbs free energy minimization. The calculated results of the model show that, under the given stable production condition, the contents of Cu, Fe and S in matte are 71.08%, 7.15% and 17.51%, and the contents of Fe, SiO2 and Cu in slag are 42.17%, 25.05% and 3.16%. The calculated fractional distributions of minor elements among gas, slag and matte phases are As 82.69%, 11.22%, 6.09%, Sb 16.57%, 70.63%, 12.80%, Bi 68.93%, 11.30%, 19.77%, Pb 19.70%, 24.75%, 55.55% and Zn 17.94%, 64.28%, 17.79%, respectively. The calculated results of the multiphase equilibrium model agree well with the actual industrial production data, indicating that the credibility of the model is validated. Therefore, the model could be used to monitor and optimize the industrial operations of SKS process.