KINETICS OF REDUCTION OF METAL VALUES FROM FAYALITE-BASED SLAGS .1. REDUCTION OF NICKEL AND COPPER

The kinetics of the reduction of nickel from a silica-saturated fayali te slag into a copper-based metallic phase has been measured on a labo ratory scale. A general model has been developed that is capable of si mulating mass transfer to and away from metal-slag, slag-gas and metal -gas interfaces for multiple species. The model has been used to simul ate the reactions that occur when copper and nickel are reduced from f ayalite-based slags into a copper-based metallic phase. Good agreement is achieved between model predictions and experimental data.