Method for the production of the high-grade chalcociteCuS through selective chlorination of iron in chalcopyrite

摘要

Disclosed is a selective chlorinating method using copper carbide (CuCl) to yield high-grade copper sulfide from chalcopyrite (CuFeS_2). In case of reacting copper sulfide with chalcopyrite in an argon atmosphere with a quartz crucible for five hours after inputting sulfur at 800-1100 K, iron is selectively eliminated by a form of iron chloride (FeCl_2) from the chalcopyrite at 1100 K. A percentage by mass of the iron is decreased to 0.05% by mass or less with respect to a remainder from 31.5% by mass with respect to 100% by mass of the chalcopyrite when the iron is inputted. Accordingly, high-grade copper sulfide (Cu_2S) is obtained from the chalcopyrite by a single process. In addition, a rate of removing the iron comes to 99.8%. The selective chlorinating method using copper carbide as a carbide agent is capable of producing high-grade copper sulfide from chalcopyrite.