Arsenic Deportment and Integrated Control in Copper Pyrometallurgy: A Geometallurgical Perspective

As the copper industry increasingly processes arsenic-bearing polymetallic concentrates, effective arsenic management has become a critical constraint on smelter performance and environmental compliance. This review presents an integrated geometallurgical framework describing arsenic deportment across the copper pyrometallurgical value chain, from ore mineralogy to flue dust treatment. The mineralogical occurrence of arsenic in sulfosalts such as enargite and tennantite is examined in relation to flotation behavior and concentrate quality. During smelting and converting, arsenic partitions among matte, slag, and off-gas, with distribution strongly governed by oxygen potential, matte grade, and reactor configuration. Particular emphasis is placed on the formation of stable Cu-As alloy phases in copper matte and their persistence into blister copper. The transformation and speciation of arsenic in off-gas systems are analyzed, highlighting condensation mechanisms in waste heat boilers and electrostatic precipitators and the stabilization of arsenic as arsenates in flue dust. Pyrometallurgical removal strategies, including early mineral rejection and low-temperature roasting with sulfidizing or acidic additives, are evaluated in terms of thermodynamic feasibility and industrial applicability. The study demonstrates that controlling arsenic requires coordinated management across mineral processing, smelting, and dust treatment stages rather than isolated unit operations. A process-integrated approach based on mineralogical and phase-specific understanding is essential for sustainable copper production under increasingly stringent environmental regulations.

کلیدواژه ها:

Geometallurgy ، Arsenic deportment ، Flue dust roasting ، Copper matte speciation ، Early arsenic removal