US3441404A - Extraction of copper from molten metal melts - Google Patents
Extraction of copper from molten metal melts Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3441404A US3441404A US3441404DA US3441404A US 3441404 A US3441404 A US 3441404A US 3441404D A US3441404D A US 3441404DA US 3441404 A US3441404 A US 3441404A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- copper
- metal
- sulfur
- molten metal
- halide
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 239000010949 copper Substances 0.000 title description 34
- RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copper Chemical compound [Cu] RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 title description 33
- 229910052802 copper Inorganic materials 0.000 title description 33
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 title description 31
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 title description 31
- 239000000155 melt Substances 0.000 title description 5
- 238000000605 extraction Methods 0.000 title description 2
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 21
- NINIDFKCEFEMDL-UHFFFAOYSA-N Sulfur Chemical compound [S] NINIDFKCEFEMDL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 16
- XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N Iron Chemical compound [Fe] XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 15
- 229910052717 sulfur Inorganic materials 0.000 description 15
- 239000011593 sulfur Substances 0.000 description 15
- 239000003795 chemical substances by application Substances 0.000 description 14
- 150000004820 halides Chemical class 0.000 description 14
- 150000001875 compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 11
- 229910001018 Cast iron Inorganic materials 0.000 description 7
- 229910052742 iron Inorganic materials 0.000 description 7
- 229910052784 alkaline earth metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 5
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 5
- 229910052700 potassium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 5
- ZLMJMSJWJFRBEC-UHFFFAOYSA-N Potassium Chemical compound [K] ZLMJMSJWJFRBEC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 239000011591 potassium Substances 0.000 description 4
- CWYNVVGOOAEACU-UHFFFAOYSA-N Fe2+ Chemical compound [Fe+2] CWYNVVGOOAEACU-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 229910052783 alkali metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 239000002893 slag Substances 0.000 description 3
- KRHYYFGTRYWZRS-UHFFFAOYSA-M Fluoride anion Chemical compound [F-] KRHYYFGTRYWZRS-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 2
- 229910001508 alkali metal halide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 150000008045 alkali metal halides Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 150000001340 alkali metals Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 2
- BWFPGXWASODCHM-UHFFFAOYSA-N copper monosulfide Chemical compound [Cu]=S BWFPGXWASODCHM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000003517 fume Substances 0.000 description 2
- -1 ice compound Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 238000002844 melting Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000008018 melting Effects 0.000 description 2
- 150000005309 metal halides Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 150000002739 metals Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 2
- OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon Chemical compound [C] OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- UCKMPCXJQFINFW-UHFFFAOYSA-N Sulphide Chemical compound [S-2] UCKMPCXJQFINFW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000003513 alkali Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910045601 alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000000956 alloy Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000001649 bromium compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 150000001805 chlorine compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 230000002860 competitive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007796 conventional method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004880 explosion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001914 filtration Methods 0.000 description 1
- 150000002222 fluorine compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910002804 graphite Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010439 graphite Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910001509 metal bromide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000002156 mixing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012958 reprocessing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003923 scrap metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005406 washing Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
- C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
- C22B7/00—Working up raw materials other than ores, e.g. scrap, to produce non-ferrous metals and compounds thereof; Methods of a general interest or applied to the winning of more than two metals
- C22B7/001—Dry processes
- C22B7/002—Dry processes by treating with halogens, sulfur or compounds thereof; by carburising, by treating with hydrogen (hydriding)
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
- C21C—PROCESSING OF PIG-IRON, e.g. REFINING, MANUFACTURE OF WROUGHT-IRON OR STEEL; TREATMENT IN MOLTEN STATE OF FERROUS ALLOYS
- C21C1/00—Refining of pig-iron; Cast iron
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
- C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
- C22B15/00—Obtaining copper
- C22B15/0026—Pyrometallurgy
- C22B15/0056—Scrap treating
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
- Y02P10/00—Technologies related to metal processing
- Y02P10/20—Recycling
Definitions
- This invention relates to the removal of copper in the reclamation of metal scrap.
- copper can be removed from such metals by treating it in a molten state with sulfur and a halide-containing compound selected from the group consisting of alkali earth metal halides, alkali metal halides, alkali earth metal silicohalides, alkali metal silicohalides, KMgF KAlF KgTiFe, KgZI'F and K SnF
- a halide-containing compound selected from the group consisting of alkali earth metal halides, alkali metal halides, alkali earth metal silicohalides, alkali metal silicohalides, KMgF KAlF KgTiFe, KgZI'F and K SnF
- Another object is to provide cast iron and other metals free of copper.
- a further object is the introduction of materials having a low vapor pressure into a bath of molten metal whereby the danger of explosion is eliminated.
- a stil further object is the introduction of a volatile material into a bath of molten metal, whereby the volatile material helps to free copper from the metal melt.
- the halide-containing compound is mixed with sulfur to form the treating agent, and the agent combined with the coppr-containing molten metal by (1) placing the agent in the bottom of the furnace or crucible prior to melting the metal; or (2) adding the agent to the molten metal; or (3) pouring the molten metal into a ladle containing the agent.
- the agent contacts the molten metal, heavy fumes containing the copper are given off. After the fuming ceases, the molten mass can be cast or poured.
- An easily removable slag which contains elements from the agent, forms on top of the resultant ingot. After slag removal, the ingot, substantially free of copper, can be worked in the conventional manner.
- sulfur is preferably added in amounts ranging from about 2 to about 6 parts per part of copper; the halide-containing 3,441,404 Patented Apr. 29, 1969 ice compound being added in amounts ranging from about 4 to about 8 parts per part of sulfur. If lesser amounts of treating agent are employed, smaller percentages of copper will be removed.
- EXAMPLE II Grams Sulfur used none Cast iron 45 Copper metal 5 K SiF 30 The object was to test only potassium silicofluoride as a treating agent. The materials were treated and processed as in Example I. After melting and cooling was completed, the sample was prepared for analysis.
- Copper can substantially be removed by the process of the present invention from ferrous metals such as scrap iron and alloy steels containing up to as much as about 30% copper by weight. Furthermore, by the process, junked cars which present a disposal problem and even larger stockpiles of other scrap metal would be available for reprocessing. Any of the furnacing techniques now used by the industry could be employed. Finally, the removed copper composition could be recovered by, for example, filtering or washing the gas or fumes, or by any other conventional method.
- a process for removing copper from a copper-com taining ferrous metal comprising reacting the said coppercontaining ferrous metal while in a molten state with sulfur and a halide-containing compound selected from the group consisting of alkali metal halides, alkali earth metal halides, alkali metal silicohalides, alkali earth metal silicohalides, KMgF KAlF K TiF K ZrF and K SnF to strip said copper from said copper-containing ferrous metal.
- reaction step comprises mixing said molten metal with sulfur and said halide-containing compound.
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Materials Engineering (AREA)
- Metallurgy (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- Manufacture And Refinement Of Metals (AREA)
Description
United States Patent 3,441,404 EXTRACTION OF COPPER FROM MOLTEN METAL MELTS Kenneth H. Ivey, Adelphi, Md., and Sidney J. Chastain, Knoxville, Tenn., assignors to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Interior No Drawing. Filed Nov. 25, 1966, Ser. No. 597,162
Int. Cl. C22b 15/00 US. Cl. 75-76 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Removing copper from molten scrap iron by adding sulfur and halide-containing compound to the melt whereby resultant halide vapor strips off copper-sulfur compound.
This invention relates to the removal of copper in the reclamation of metal scrap.
For some years now, the United States has imported large quantities of iron ore since foreign ore possesses higher quality than domestic ore and can be delivered at competitive costs. While there are large domestic supplies of scrap iron available in junk cars, it is considered unusable as clean basic cast iron because copper, in the form of small wires and tubing, is not removed by the junk dealer for economic reasons. When this scrap is melted, the ingot contains enough copper to cause the metal to be unusable as a source material for metallurgical industries.
It has now been discovered that copper can be removed from such metals by treating it in a molten state with sulfur and a halide-containing compound selected from the group consisting of alkali earth metal halides, alkali metal halides, alkali earth metal silicohalides, alkali metal silicohalides, KMgF KAlF KgTiFe, KgZI'F and K SnF One theory advanced with regard to the process is that the sulfur forms copper sulphide with copper in the metal, and the halide vaporizes and strips ofi the sulphide.
Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a method for the removal of copper from metal melts.
Another object is to provide cast iron and other metals free of copper.
A further object is the introduction of materials having a low vapor pressure into a bath of molten metal whereby the danger of explosion is eliminated.
A stil further object is the introduction of a volatile material into a bath of molten metal, whereby the volatile material helps to free copper from the metal melt.
Other objects and advantages will be obvious from the detailed description of the process appearing in the specification.
In the practice of this invention, the halide-containing compound is mixed with sulfur to form the treating agent, and the agent combined with the coppr-containing molten metal by (1) placing the agent in the bottom of the furnace or crucible prior to melting the metal; or (2) adding the agent to the molten metal; or (3) pouring the molten metal into a ladle containing the agent. When the agent contacts the molten metal, heavy fumes containing the copper are given off. After the fuming ceases, the molten mass can be cast or poured. An easily removable slag, which contains elements from the agent, forms on top of the resultant ingot. After slag removal, the ingot, substantially free of copper, can be worked in the conventional manner.
To obtain substantial removal of the copper, sulfur is preferably added in amounts ranging from about 2 to about 6 parts per part of copper; the halide-containing 3,441,404 Patented Apr. 29, 1969 ice compound being added in amounts ranging from about 4 to about 8 parts per part of sulfur. If lesser amounts of treating agent are employed, smaller percentages of copper will be removed.
The following examples illustrate the efi'ectivenss of the process of the present invention:
EXAMPLE I Cast iron, copper and the treating agent were used in the following percentages:
Grams Cast iron 45 Copper metal 5 K SiF 30 Sulfur 10 The potassium silicofluoride and sulfur were placed in the bottom of a graphite crucible; the cast iron mixed with the copper was placed on top of the treating agent. The crucible was then placed in a furnace and the mixture melted. Once fuming had ceased, the melt was removed from the furnace and a button was cast.
Results.0n cooling, the slag was removed from the metal button which was cut into sections, and the shavings were analyzed. The analysis gave the following results:
Percent K 0 Ca 0 Ti .1 V 0 Cr .3 Fe Major constituen Ni .1 Cu .2
These data indicates that 98 percent of the copper was removed from the metal melt during the process.
EXAMPLE II Grams Sulfur used none Cast iron 45 Copper metal 5 K SiF 30 The object was to test only potassium silicofluoride as a treating agent. The materials were treated and processed as in Example I. After melting and cooling was completed, the sample was prepared for analysis.
Results.Spectrographic analysis showed that only 50 percent of the copper was removed by this method, pointing up the fact that sulfur is an important component of the process.
EXAMPLE III In this example only sulfur was used as a treating agent. Grams Cast iron 45 Copper metal 5 Sulfur 30 3 in combination, larger amounts of these agents remove greater amounts of copper.
Besides the fluorides, other halides such as alkali and alkali earth metal chlorides and bromides are effective copper removal agents.
Copper can substantially be removed by the process of the present invention from ferrous metals such as scrap iron and alloy steels containing up to as much as about 30% copper by weight. Furthermore, by the process, junked cars which present a disposal problem and even larger stockpiles of other scrap metal would be available for reprocessing. Any of the furnacing techniques now used by the industry could be employed. Finally, the removed copper composition could be recovered by, for example, filtering or washing the gas or fumes, or by any other conventional method.
Although the particular process herein described is well adapted to carry out the objects of the present invention, it is to be understood that various modifications and changes may be made all coming within the scope of the following claims.
What is claimed is:
1. A process for removing copper from a copper-com taining ferrous metal comprising reacting the said coppercontaining ferrous metal while in a molten state with sulfur and a halide-containing compound selected from the group consisting of alkali metal halides, alkali earth metal halides, alkali metal silicohalides, alkali earth metal silicohalides, KMgF KAlF K TiF K ZrF and K SnF to strip said copper from said copper-containing ferrous metal.
2. The process of claim 1 wherein said halide-containing compound is a fluoride-containing compound.
3. The process of claim 1 wherein said halide-containing compound is potassium silicofluoride.
4. The process of claim 1 wherein said reaction step comprises mixing said molten metal with sulfur and said halide-containing compound.
5. The process of claim 4 wherein said halide-containing compound is a fluoride.
6. The process of claim 4 wherein said halide-containing compound is potassium silicofluoride.
7. The process of claim 4 wherein said metal contains less than about 30% by weight copper, and wherein said 0 sulfur is added in an amount ranging from about 2 to about 6 parts per part of copper present in said metal, and said halide-containing compound is added in an amount ranging from about 4 to about 8 parts per part of sulfur added.
8. The process of claim 1 wherein said metal is scrap irOn.
9. The process of claim 2 wherein said metal is scrap iron.
10. The process of claim 3 wherein said metal is scrap iron.
References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 393,258 Beck 1l0-85 2,362,202 11/1944 Hay 23l35 X 2,403,419 7/1946 Wilkins 75-44 2,662,009 12/1953 Roberts 75108 2,683,085 7/1954 Lohberg 75-63 L. DEWAYNE RUTLEDGE, Primary Examiner.
J. E. LEGRU, Assistant Examiner.
US. Cl. X.R.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US59716266A | 1966-11-25 | 1966-11-25 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| US3441404A true US3441404A (en) | 1969-04-29 |
Family
ID=24390361
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| US3441404D Expired - Lifetime US3441404A (en) | 1966-11-25 | 1966-11-25 | Extraction of copper from molten metal melts |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US3441404A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4925488A (en) * | 1987-07-30 | 1990-05-15 | Milton Blander | Removal of copper from ferrous scrap |
Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US393258A (en) * | 1888-11-20 | Thomas b | ||
| US2362202A (en) * | 1942-03-23 | 1944-11-07 | Harshaw Chem Corp | Separation of copper from zinc |
| US2403419A (en) * | 1943-04-15 | 1946-07-02 | Revere Copper & Brass Inc | Method of recovering the constituents of scrap bi-metal |
| US2662009A (en) * | 1949-11-15 | 1953-12-08 | Chemical Construction Corp | Gas replacement of metal sulfides |
| US2683085A (en) * | 1949-09-14 | 1954-07-06 | Metallgesellschaft Ag | Process for the recovery of metals or metal alloys from iron clad therewith |
-
1966
- 1966-11-25 US US3441404D patent/US3441404A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US393258A (en) * | 1888-11-20 | Thomas b | ||
| US2362202A (en) * | 1942-03-23 | 1944-11-07 | Harshaw Chem Corp | Separation of copper from zinc |
| US2403419A (en) * | 1943-04-15 | 1946-07-02 | Revere Copper & Brass Inc | Method of recovering the constituents of scrap bi-metal |
| US2683085A (en) * | 1949-09-14 | 1954-07-06 | Metallgesellschaft Ag | Process for the recovery of metals or metal alloys from iron clad therewith |
| US2662009A (en) * | 1949-11-15 | 1953-12-08 | Chemical Construction Corp | Gas replacement of metal sulfides |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4925488A (en) * | 1987-07-30 | 1990-05-15 | Milton Blander | Removal of copper from ferrous scrap |
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