KINETICS OF REDUCTION OF METAL VALUES FROM FAYALITE-BASED SLAGS .2. MODELING OF IDEALIZED SLAG-CLEANING CONDITIONS

The kinetics of the reduction of metal values from fayalite slags cont aining CuO0.5, ZnO, PbO, MQ and SnO into a copper-based metal phase ha ve been subjected to a computer simulation. The simulation relies on t he use of a previously developed model for the kinetics of metal-slag- gas reactions that assumes mass-transfer control in all phases. Simula tions were performed to examine the effects of changing hulk iron oxid e activity, the reducing potential of the gas phase, temperature, the iron content of the copper phase and the metal/slag ratio. The results permit practical conclusions to be drawn with regard to industrial sl ag-cleaning practice. In its present state of development, however, th e model suffers from limitations in terms of thermodynamic inputs and the idealization of reaction conditions.