Continuity liquation

Liquation. Antimony sulfide is readily but inefficiendy separated from the gangue of comparatively rich sulfide ore by heating the gangue to 550—600°C in perforated pots placed in a brick furnace. The molten sulfide is collected in lower containers. A more efficient method uses a reverberatory furnace and continuous liquation however, a reducing atmosphere must be provided to prevent oxidation and loss by volatilization. The residue, containing 12—30% antimony, is usually treated by the volatilization process to recover additional antimony. The liquated product, called cmde or needle antimony, is sold as such for applications requiring antimony sulfide, or is converted to metallic antimony by iron precipitation or careful roasting to the oxide followed by reduction in a reverberatory furnace. 

The smelting is done in pots, which are either heated directly by the burning fuel or by the flame coming from a fireplace. In the liquation in pots, the working is carried on intermittently, while continuous working is permitted in that of tubes or reverbersttory furnaces, thus economising the consumption of fuel. 

S) Water-joxlK.t or Blast Furnaces.—Bering has experimented with shaft furnaces for the treatment of liquation residues by the precipitation method. Although his experiments have not been continued, yet good results might be obtained if rich ores were treated. 

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