Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Case Study on the Application of Research to Operations—Calcium Ferrite Slags

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Extraction 2018

Part of the book series: The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series ((MMMS))

Abstract

The Top Submerged Lance (TSL ) technology, developed in the 1970s, is now widely used for the processing of a range of materials. TSL technology for continuous converting was first patented in the 1990s. The process is based on the use of calcium ferrite slag . Although this slag system had been applied elsewhere the phase equilibria had not been thoroughly investigated. This lead to a collaboration between the Process Technology group of Mount Isa Mines, now part of Glencore, and the Pyrometallurgy Innovation Centre (PYROSEARCH) at The University of Queensland. Through multiple research programs this complex system was successfully investigated. The results were then implemented within thermodynamic modelling tools. This combined new knowledge was then applied to the design and industrial implementation of the TSL continuous converting technology, ISACONVERT™. This paper describes the key findings of the research and how this was applied to the industrial implementation of the technology.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 189.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Burford B (2009) The ISASMELT™ technology package: over 30 years of innovation. AusIMM Bull J Australas Inst Min Metall (1):26–30. February 2009

    Google Scholar 

  2. Edwards JS, Jahanshahi S (1999) Copper converting. United States Patent, No. 5,888,270, 30 March 1999

    Google Scholar 

  3. Yazawa A, Takeda Y, Waseda Y (1981) Thermodynamic properties and structure of ferrite slags and their process implications. Can Metall Q 20:129–134

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Yazawa A, Takeda Y (1982) Equilibrium relations between liquid copper and calcium ferrite slag. Trans Jap Inst Met 23:328–333

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Takeda Y, Nakazawa S, Yazawa A (1980) Thermodynamics of calcium ferrite slags at 1200 and 1300 °C. Can Metall Q 19:297–305

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Jak E, Hayes PC, Lee HG (1995) Improved methodologies for the determination of high temperature phase equilibria. Korean J Metals Mater 1:1–8

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Jak E, Hayes PC (2004) Phase equilibria determination in complex slag systems. In: Proceedings of international symposium molten slags and fluxes, capetown. SAIMM, Johannesburg, South Africa, pp 85–104

    Google Scholar 

  8. Ilyushechkin A, Hayes PC, Jak E (2004) Liquidus temperatures in calcium ferrite slags in equilibrium with molten copper. Metall Mater Trans B 35B:203–215

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Nikolic S, Hayes PC, Jak E (2008) Phase equilibria in ferrous calcium silicate slags part i: intermediate oxygen partial pressures in the temperature range 1200–1350 °C. Metal Mater Trans B 39(2):179–188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Nikolic S, Hayes PC, Jak E (2008) Phase equilibria in ferrous calcium silicate slags part iii: copper saturated slag at 1250 and 1300 °C at an oxygen partial pressure of 10−6atm. Metal Mater Trans B 39(2):200–209

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Nikolic S, Hayes PC, Jak E (2009) Experimental techniques for investigating calcium ferrite slags at metallic copper saturation and application to systems “Cu2O”-“Fe2O3” and “Cu2O”-CaO at metallic copper saturation. Metal Mater Trans B 40(6):892–899

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Nikolic S, Hayes PC, Jak E (2008) Liquidus temperatures in the “Cu2O”-FeO-Fe2O3-CaO system at metallic copper saturation. Metal Mater Trans B 40(6):900–909

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Shishin D, Hayes PC, Jak E (2018) Multicomponent thermodynamic databases for complex non-ferrous pyrometallurgical processes. In: Peter Hayes Symposium Ottawa

    Google Scholar 

  14. Jak E (2012) Integrated experimental and thermodynamic modelling research methodology for copper and other metallurgical slags. In: MOLTEN 12, 9th international conference on molten slags, fluxes and salts, Beijing, China, May 2012, paper w77

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the following for their assistance in this project: Ms Jie Yu, Mr Adrian Riding and Dr. Baojun Zhao from the Pyrometallurgy Research Centre (PYROSEARCH) within the University of Queensland; Alistair Burrows, Bill Errington, James Edwards, Martin Bakker and Philip Arthur from Xstrata Technology for useful discussions on this topic; Mr Ron Rasch, Mr Kim Sewell and Ms Ying Yu from the Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis (CMM) within the University of Queensland. Xstrata Technology and the Australian Research Council provided financial support for this project under the ARC Linkage Program.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Glencore Technology Pty. Ltd., Level 10, 160 Ann Street, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia

    Stanko Nikolic

  2. School of Chemical Engineering, PYROSEARCH—Pyrometallurgy Innovation Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia

    Denis Shishin, Peter C. Hayes & Evgueni Jak

Authors
  1. Stanko Nikolic
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Denis Shishin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Peter C. Hayes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Evgueni Jak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stanko Nikolic .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Kingston Process Metallurgy Inc., Kingston, Canada

    Boyd R. Davis

  2. Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, USA

    Michael S. Moats

  3. Rio Tinto Kennecott Utah Copper Corporation, South Jordan, USA

    Shijie Wang

  4. RHI Magnesita, Leoben, Austria

    Dean Gregurek

  5. BBA Inc., Montreal, Canada

    Joël Kapusta

  6. Extractive Metallurgy Consultant, Kingston, Canada

    Thomas P. Battle

  7. Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, USA

    Mark E. Schlesinger

  8. Aurubis, Hamburg, Germany

    Gerardo Raul Alvear Flores

  9. University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia

    Evgueni Jak

  10. XPS-Glencore, Falconbridge, Canada

    Graeme Goodall

  11. University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA

    Michael L. Free

  12. University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

    Edouard Asselin

  13. University of Lorraine, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France

    Alexandre Chagnes

  14. University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

    David Dreisinger

  15. Newmont Mining, Elko, USA

    Matthew Jeffrey

  16. University of Arizona, Tucson, USA

    Jaeheon Lee

  17. Miller Metallurgical Services Pty Ltd., Brisbane, Australia

    Graeme Miller

  18. University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Australia

    Jochen Petersen

  19. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

    Virginia S. T. Ciminelli

  20. Shanghai University, Shanghai, China

    Qian Xu

  21. MetNetH20 Inc., Peterborough, Canada

    Ronald Molnar

  22. Hatch, Mississauga, Canada

    Jeff Adams

  23. University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

    Wenying Liu

  24. SGS Minerals, Lakefield, Canada

    Niels Verbaan

  25. J.R. Goode and Associates Metallurgical Consulting, Toronto, Canada

    John Goode

  26. Avalon Rare Metals Inc., Toronto, Canada

    Ian M. London

  27. University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

    Gisele Azimi

  28. SGS Minerals, Lakefield, Canada

    Alex Forstner

  29. Newmont Mining, Greenwood Village, USA

    Ronel Kappes

  30. Newmont Mining Corporation, Greenwood village, USA

    Tarun Bhambhani

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Nikolic, S., Shishin, D., Hayes, P.C., Jak, E. (2018). Case Study on the Application of Research to Operations—Calcium Ferrite Slags. In: Davis, B., et al. Extraction 2018. The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95022-8_31

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation