Copper smelting
- The smelting furnace is the first stage of copper production (Nancy et al p. 184)
- Oxygen is used to separate iron from copper in the compound chalcopyrite (CuFeS2)
- 2CuFeS2+4O2----Cu2S+2FeO+3SO2 (Clancy et al p. 184)
- The Iron(II) oxide is reacted with limestone and sand to create a compound called slag with floats on top of the molten mixture, whereas the copper sinks (Clancy et al p. 184)
- The products are then moved to slag-cleaning furnace and are separated according to density (Clancy et al p. 184)
- Matte goes to converting furnace and undesired slag goes to furnace (Clancy et al p. 184)
- In the converting furnace air is blown over molten mixture and oxygen reacts with the copper matte in 2 reaction(Clancy et al p. 184)
- 2Cu2S+3O2----2CuO+2SO2
- Cu2S+2Cu2O----6Cu+SO2
- Which produces the final product