Behaviour of copper, cobalt and sulphur in fluidised-bed roasting of concentrates at the Ergani copper smelter.

Turkey has very extensive and economically viable pyritic Cu sulphide ores; waste disposal of pyritic cinder from sulphuric acid plants in the various Black Sea provinces amounts to about 260 000 tonnes/a and includes 80% of the Co from the ore. Investigation with scanning electron microscopy and leaching showed that the concentrate had to be roasted in a controlled atmosphere to achieve high Cu and Co solubility. Extraction rates of 88% Cu and 74% Co were obtained, and tests indicated that with more precise temperature control higher rates would be possible.
Turkey has very extensive and economically viable pyritic Cu sulphide ores; waste disposal of pyritic cinder from sulphuric acid plants in the various Black Sea provinces amounts to about 260 000 tonnes/a and includes 80% of the Co from the ore. Investigation with scanning electron microscopy and leaching showed that the concentrate had to be roasted in a controlled atmosphere to achieve high Cu and Co solubility. Extraction rates of 88% Cu and 74% Co were obtained, and tests indicated that with more precise temperature control higher rates would be possible.