Mass transfer from copper melts by top-blowing of an argon-hydrogen plasma jet

Abstract

The volatilization of lead, copper, tin, and zinc from copper melts using the technique of top-blowing with an argon-hydrogen plasma jet was experimentally investigated and theoretically evaluated. A plasma burner with 16 kW power was used in the experiments. The mole flow of the plasma gases was 0.017 mol/s (25 liters/min when T = 25°C and PG = 1 bar). The temperature was 1830°C on the surface of the melt and between 1200 and 1500°C in the molten solution. When the zinc concentration is above 2 mole%, supersaturation of zinc occurs on the surface. In this range of concentrations the ratio of dilution of the concentration in relation to time is linear (zeroth-order reaction). When the concentration of zinc is below 2 mole%, the time dependence of volatilization can be described by an exponential law corresponding to a first-order reaction, because in this case the rate-determining step is the mass transport of zinc in the molten copper phase. From the change from zeroth-order to first-order reaction during the volatilization of zinc, the temperature on the surface of the melt can be estimated with a high degree of accuracy. On the other hand, the volatilization of tin and lead is determined by mass transfer in the gas phase, which leads to an exponential law for the whole range of concentrations. Reaction models were set up on the basis of the experimental data. The relationships thereby obtained permit one to evaluate in advance the yield of future industrial volatilization processes with top-blown plasma jets.