Copper Extraction

EXTRACTIVE METALLURGY
COPPER EXTRACTION
Andaradhi Nararya
1206291992
Pranaya Ganendra Putra
1206292036
Department of Metallurgy and Materials

Faculty of Engineering
Universitas Indonesia
2014
Content
Introduction
History
to copper
of copper
Properties
of copper
Copper
mineral ores
Copper
extraction process
Pyrometallurgy
Roasting
Smelting
Converison
Refining
Applications
Reference
of copper
1. Introduction to copper
Copper is a chemical element with symbol Cu

(from Latin: cuprum) and atomic number 29.
It is a ductile metal with very high

thermal and electrical conductivity.
Pure copper is soft and malleable.
Has a reddish-orange color.
2. History of copper
In Roman era, copper was principally mined

on Cyprus, hence the origin of the name of the metal
as yprium (metal of Cyprus), later shortened
to uprum.
3. Properties of copper
Name and Symbol
Copper: Cu
State
Solid
Atomic Number
29
Element category
Transition Metal
Group: Period: Block
11: 4: d
Standard atomic weight
63.546(3) gmol1
Density
8.94 gcm3
Melting point
1084.62 C
Boiling point
2562 C
Crystal structure
Face-Centered Cubic
Magnetic ordering
Diamagnetic
Electrical resistivity
(20 C) 16.78 nm
Thermal conductivity
(300 K) 401 Wm1K1
4. Copper mineral ores
Pure copper is rarely found in nature. It is usually

combined with other chemicals in the form of copper
ores.
The main ore mineral of copper is chalcopyrite

(CuFeS2), bornite (Cu5FeS4), covellite (CuS) and
chalcocite (Cu2S)
Name
Formula
% Copper when pure
Azurite
2CuCO3Cu(OH)2
55.1
Bornite
2Cu2SCuSFeS
63.3
Chalcocite
Cu2S
79.8
Chrysocolla
CuOSiO22H2O
37.9
Covellite
CuS
66.5
Cuprite
Cu2O
88.8
Malachite
CuCO3Cu(OH)2
57.3
Chalcopyrite
CuFeS2
34.5
Tennantite
Cu12As4S13
51.6
Tetrahedrite
Cu3SbS3 +
x(Fe,Zn)6Sb2S9
3245
5. Copper extraction process
Copper (Cu): non-reactive metal (can

atmospheric air or by presence of oxygen).
Copper extraction processes:

o Pyrometallurgy
o Hydrometallurgy
be
processed
in
Pyrometallurgy: Roasting Smelting Conversion Refining - Casting
5.1 Roasting
The objectives in roasting process are:

o Change some of the CuFeS2 to copper oxide
o Remove some of the sulphur as sulphur dioxide.
The roasting process is taken by reverberatory furnaces.
It is heated up to 500C - 700C in air.

2CuFeS2(s) + 3O2(g) 2FeO(s) + 2CuS(s) + 2SO2(g)
The copper concentrate is partially oxidized to produce calcine

and sulfur dioxide gas.
10
5.2 Smelting
The calcine is heated to over 1200 C with fluxes such as silica

and limestone in flash smelting furnace.
The calcine melts and reacts with the fluxes.
Some impurities form a slag which floats on the surface of the

liquid (like oil on water) and is easily removed.
The liquid left is a mixture of copper sulphides and iron

sulphides. It is called a matte.
11
5.3 Conversion
The liquid matte is oxidized with air to form blister copper in
a converter. The reactions are:
a)
Elimination of iron sulphide by oxidation to iron oxide which

forms a slag:
b)
Formation of blister copper by reduction of copper sulphide:
The blister copper produced by this process is 99% pure copper.
12
5.4 Refining
Even though blister copper is 99% pure. It contains

impurities mainly Fe but little amount of As, Zn, Pb, Ag and Au
may also be present.
These impurities adversely affect the electrical as well as

mechanical properties of copper. Therefore, they must be
removed.
The blister copper is heated in a refining furnace (air + sodium

carbonate flux; to remove traces of arsenic and antimony).
The molten copper, which is about 99.5% pure, is then poured

into molds to form large electrical anodes.
13
The large electrical anodes ready for electrolytic refining

(immerse in acidic copper sulfate solution) to obtain 99.95 99.99% pure copper.
14
6. Applications of copper
15
Reference
http://www.somika.com/copper-properties-
ores-minerals-lubumbashi.php
http://copperalliance.org/history-of-copper/
http://www.australianminesatlas.gov.au/educ
ation/fact_sheets/copper.html
http://resources.schoolscience.co.uk/CDA/14-
16/cumining/copch2pg3.html
http://www.madehow.com/Volume-
4/Copper.html
http://www.citycollegiate.com/dblock4.htm
16

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What are the main copper mineral ores?

What are the main copper mineral ores?

What are the steps involved in pyrometallurgy process of copper extraction?

What are the steps involved in pyrometallurgy process of copper extraction?

EXTRACTIVE METALLURGY

Pranaya Ganendra Putra

Department of Metallurgy and Materials

Copper is a chemical element with symbol Cu

It is a ductile metal with very high

Pure copper is soft and malleable.

Has a reddish-orange color.

In Roman era, copper was principally mined

Group: Period: Block

Standard atomic weight

(300 K) 401 Wm1K1

4. Copper mineral ores

Pure copper is rarely found in nature. It is usually

The main ore mineral of copper is chalcopyrite

% Copper when pure

5. Copper extraction process

Copper (Cu): non-reactive metal (can

Copper extraction processes:

Pyrometallurgy: Roasting Smelting Conversion Refining - Casting

The objectives in roasting process are:

The roasting process is taken by reverberatory furnaces.

It is heated up to 500C - 700C in air.

The copper concentrate is partially oxidized to produce calcine

The calcine is heated to over 1200 C with fluxes such as silica

The calcine melts and reacts with the fluxes.

Some impurities form a slag which floats on the surface of the

The liquid left is a mixture of copper sulphides and iron

Elimination of iron sulphide by oxidation to iron oxide which

Formation of blister copper by reduction of copper sulphide:

The blister copper produced by this process is 99% pure copper.

Even though blister copper is 99% pure. It contains

These impurities adversely affect the electrical as well as

The blister copper is heated in a refining furnace (air + sodium

The molten copper, which is about 99.5% pure, is then poured

The large electrical anodes ready for electrolytic refining

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