Primary Production from Sulfide Ores

The copper contents in sulfide ores are as a rule low, sometimes below 1%. The first step after crushing and grinding of the ore is therefore mineral dressing by flotation. The complex manufacturing process thereafter is briefly described in Table 7.5. 

Material Production step Reactions Product from the step 

Ore concentrate Roasting at 700°C The process occurs in a fluidized bed roaster. A part of the sulfur is oxidized to sulfur dioxide, SO, which is used to manufacture sulfuric add. Roasted stuff 

Roasted Melting in an electric At the reaction a copper Low-grade copper matte. 

Low grade In a converter, air en- In the converter the sulfur High-grade copper matte. 

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Primary nickel is produced from both lateritic and sulfidic ores. Although currently the majority of nickel is produced from sulfidic ores, the production of nickel from lateritic ores is increasing and may overtake nickel production from sulfidic ores [1]. Lateritic ores are formed by prolonged weathering of ultramafic rocks. Typical mineralogical profile of nickel laterite ore bodies is as follows [2, 3] ... 

More than 90% of the zinc production occurs from sulfide ores. Zinc metal is produced from ore concentrate by pyrometallurgical or electrolytic techniques. Nowadays the latter are dominant. Both methods, utilizing ore as raw material, constitute the primary processes, while methods working up zinc scrap are secondary. 

As a primary approach toward "Hydrogen Economy", the H2S by-product obtained from fossil fuels or by extractive metallurgy of sulfide ores should be considered as more important for H2 recovery than for the sulfur which can be recovered. 

The manufacture of copper metal from ores is called the primary production. Ores worked may be of oxide or sulfide type. Only 9% of exploitable copper resources worldwide consist of oxide ores while 90% are sulfide ores. When copper metal is manufactured from scrap it is a secondary production. 

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