THERMODYNAMICS OF CARBOTHERMAL REDUCTION PROCESS COPPER SLAG

Abstract

The article analyses the thermodynamic laws of processing iron-based compounds contained in copper production slag using the method of carbothermic recovery. Evaluation of the probable direction of carbothermic reactions occurring between oxidized compounds and carbon in the slag was carried out by changing the thermodynamic values of the system. In the thermodynamic scientific justification of the physic-chemical processes occurring in the carbothermic recovery of metal oxides in slag, the change of Gibbs energy of the system with temperature increases and the estimation of equilibrium constants of chemical reactions based on Gibbs energy and the method of determining the slowest (limiting) chemical process among them were used. The Microsoft Excel program was used to determine the thermodynamic values of the chemical reactions occurring in the slag and reducing agent system and to compile their Ellingham graphs.