A Relevance of Selenide Capacity to Copper Smelting Slag

This chapter delves into the persistent issue of selenium loss during copper smelting, focusing on the role of selenide capacity in slag. Through meticulous experiments with synthetic slag and matte, the study reveals that selenium primarily dissolves in the matte by replacing sulfur, with negligible dissolution in the slag. The investigation proposes that selenium loss to the slag is mainly due to the entrapment of matte particles during slag-matte separation. The study also highlights the influence of impurity species on selenium distribution and challenges previous conclusions based on in-process samples. The results indicate that the fayalitic slag used in copper smelting has a capacity to hold sulfur but not selenium, suggesting that the concept of selenide capacity may not be a viable measure for selenium content in slag. This research offers valuable insights for improving selenium recovery in copper smelting operations, emphasizing the need for further investigation into the behavior of selenium in the presence of impurities.