The blast furnace volatilization smelting method of stibnite concentrate [Production Chapter]
China's antimony sulfide concentrate blast furnace volatilization smelting method differs from the reduction smelting of foreign antimony blast furnaces. It is a new antimony smelting technology successfully tested in China in the 1960s. Its smelting characteristics are that volatilization smelting is achieved under conditions of low material column, thin material layer, high coke ratio, and hot furnace top. During the smelting process, the antimony sulfide in the antimony-containing materials volatilizes and oxidizes, the gangue forms slag, and is discharged from the furnace hearth, and the main volatile product, antimony oxide, is collected in the condensation system. After decades of practice, improvement, and enhancement, the blast furnace volatilization smelting antimony concentrate process has become one of the main volatilization processes for antimony smelting in China, and is widely used in domestic antimony smelters.
Basic principle of blast furnace volatilization smelting: Sb in antimony concentrate 203 and Sb 2 S 3 are easily volatile, and the volatilized Sb 2 S 3 is also easy to react with O in the air 2 to form Sb 203 ', so air is blown into the furnace, coke combustion provides heat, and the antimony sulfide in the concentrate volatilizes into a gaseous state at high temperature, and the gaseous Sb' 2 S 3 reacts with oxygen in the air to form antimony oxide. The gangue in the concentrate undergoes a slag-forming reaction with iron ore and quicklime to form a SiO 2 -FeO-CaO ternary slag, finally separating antimony from the gangue.
The reason why the blast furnace volatilization smelting process has developed rapidly is mainly due to its following main characteristics:
1. Strong adaptability to raw materials, it can process sulfide ores, oxide ores, and mixed sulfide-oxide ores. Whether it is lump concentrate, powder concentrate (requires pre-pelleting), or intermediate products from antimony smelters, or other materials with higher antimony content, such as foam slag, antimony slag, raw antimony slag, furnace bottom brick slag, etc., can all be processed in the furnace.
2. Suitable for processing high-grade antimony concentrates; the higher the antimony content in the concentrate, the better the economic benefits.
3. High antimony volatilization rate, generally above 90%.
4. The blast furnace has a large production capacity. The unit production capacity calculated based on the amount of concentrate processed is 5-6 times that of the shaft furnace and 20-30 times that of the reverberatory furnace, with a recovery rate as high as 97%-98%.
5. The produced antimony matte and crude antimony can be returned to the blast furnace for processing without the need to build separate antimony processing equipment.
6. Easier to achieve mechanized operation, thereby reducing labor intensity and improving occupational health conditions.
The disadvantages of blast furnace volatilization smelting are high coke ratio and low thermal efficiency. The coke ratio of antimony blast furnaces is generally 20%-25% of the amount of furnace materials, or 30%-45% of the amount of concentrate, and the coke ratio of some plants is as high as 47% of the amount of furnace materials. The temperature of the furnace gas in the antimony blast furnace is high, and the heat it carries away accounts for about 60% of the total heat, so its thermal efficiency is relatively low. In addition, iron ore and other materials need to be added as fluxes. Therefore, the cost of antimony smelting in blast furnaces is relatively high, and it is not suitable for processing medium and low-grade antimony ores. This is the basic principle and practical process of blast furnace volatilization smelting in China currently.
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