Abstract
A novel reaction scheme for transforming metal sulfides to the corresponding oxides has been developed. In this process, metal sulfides are reacted with lime with an initial addition of steam. Steam oxidizes the sulfide to the oxide, and the hydrogen sulfide produced from this reaction further reacts with lime to form calcium sulfide and regenerate steam. There is no net consumption or generation of gaseous species. Thus the overall reaction can be carried out in a closed system as far as the gas phase is concerned. This eliminates the possibility of emitting sulfur-containing gaseous pollutants. Only certain metal sulfides are thermodynamically amenable to this treatment. The sulfides of molybdenum, zinc, and iron are major examples. Chalcopyrite treated by this process is transformed into bornite and magnetite. A further potential application of this scheme may be to the selective oxidation of certain sulfides in mixed sulfides ores as a treatment prior to the separation of minerals in complex ores.
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