Nonferrous smelter studies: theoretical investigation of role of multihearth roaster operations in copper smelter gas blending schemes for control of SO/sub 2/

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1978 · Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es60137a010· OSTI ID:5043835

Carpenter, B H

A possible technology for meeting the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposed New Source Performance Standards for copper smelting is to blend lean SO/sub 2/ gas streams from reverberatory furnaces with stronger gases to obtain a SO/sub 2/ concentration sufficient to produce sulfuric acid without use of supplementary fuel. In such an approach, a high concentration of SO/sub 2/ in the roaster gases is necessary to counterbalance low concentrations in the reverberatory furnace gases. An analysis is made of the calcining of copper concentrates in multihearth roasters. The oxygen concentration of the exit gas is identified as the primary process control variable for maintaining a high level of SO/sub 2/ in the exit gas stream. The SO/sub 2/ concentrations in the exit gas that can be attained by controlling the exit gas oxygen concentration at 12 vol%, a value that has been achieved in practice, are estimated for removal of from 0.1 to 0.65 of the charged sulfur, to cover the extent of roasting that might be elected. The effect of arsenic as an impurity in the concentrate on the attainable SO/sub 2/ concentration is also shown. The results indicate that with proper control of the oxygen level therein, exit gases from U.S. multihearth roasters could be held at an SO/sub 2/ concentration of 5 vol%, dry basis, or higher.

• Research Organization: Research Triange Inst., Research Triangle Park, NC
• OSTI ID: 5043835
• Journal Information: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States), Vol. 12:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
COPPER ORES
SMELTING
SULFUR DIOXIDE
REMOVAL
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
ARSENIC
CALCINATION
FURNACES
GASES
OXYGEN
ROASTING
SULFURIC ACID
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
DECOMPOSITION
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
NONMETALS
ORES
OXIDATION
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION CONTROL
PYROLYSIS
SEMIMETALS
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR OXIDES
424000* - Engineering- Pollution Control Equipment- (1980-1989)