Thermomechanistic model for the processing of a high-arsenic copper concentrate in a duplex fluidized bed reactor

A thermomechanistic model was developed for the thermal decomposition of th e enargite contained in a copper concentrate at 650 degrees to 750 degreesC in a fluidized bed with an inert atmosphere. At the particle le vel, the m odel permits one to predict the thermal profile inside the reacting enargit e particles, as well as their thermal cycle. At the macroscopic level, a po pulation-based model coupled to the bubbling-bed fluidized bed model allows one to predict the fractional conversion (dearsenification) of an enargite -bearing copper concentrate.