Arsenic in Copper Refining and Its Influence on Refractory Lining

The present work discusses the behavior of arsenic in copper refining processes. The most important corrosion mechanisms are identified based on post-mortem analysis of refractory bricks in copper furnaces. Samples of magnesia-chromite materials were taken from the gas zone and the slag zone of aggregates for fire refining of copper. In devices from which samples were taken for testing after the end of the campaign, the process allows the removal of arsenic from the liquid metal. Increasing the content of arsenic in copper concentrates changes the refining process, which is significant for the wear profile of the refractory lining. It should be noted that the increase in the arsenic content translates into the wear of the lining in two ways: direct—through arsenic oxides, which is observed mainly in the gas zone and flue gas exhaust, and indirect—where the main cause of corrosion of refractory materials are process additives used to remove arsenic from the metal.