Experimental research on the behaviour of WEEE scrap in flash smelting settler with copper concentrate and synthetic slag

The target of present investigation is to reveal the behavior of WEEE metallic elements through experiments in a lab-scale furnace related to flash furnace smelting. WEEE materials are added to the laboratory furnace along with chalcopyrite ore and synthetic slag to monitor the reaction of metallic elements and their migration simulating what is happening in the flash smelting furnace. The concentration of elements in different phases as a function of time are determined and analyzed with the aim of creating kinetic data and rate equations for their reactions. The minor and precious metals of PCBs prefer to dissolve into the matte phase and even form their own metallic phase. No PCB metals are found in the slag phase, signaling that dissolution of valuable metals into the matte is maintained even with higher PCB ratios. However, loss of these metals to slag is dependent on matte separation from slag, as slag may entrain matte droplets and PCB metals. In the PCB droplets, sulphidation reactions of metallic copper and possibly of other minor elements will help increase the recovery of precious metals (PMs) frequently concentrated in these alloy areas. These experimental results also show that the addition of PCB pieces into furnace may decrease the final matte grade while potentially accelerating initial matte grade increase.