Chemistry Books | Extraction of Copper From Copper Pyrites | Froth Floatation | Bessemerisation

Extraction of copper from copper pyrites involves the following steps. This tutorial is created based on plus two Chemistry Books. Crushing and concentration The ore is crushed and then concentrated by froth-floatation process. What is froth floatation process? In this process the powdered ore is mixed with water and a little pine oil, that is a foaming agent and the whole mixture is then stir vigorously by blowing compressed air. The oil forms the foam or froth with the air. The ore particles stick to the froth which rises to the surface. While the rocky and earthy impurities that is the gangue or matrix are left in water. The froth is skimmed of collected and allow to subside to get the concentrated ore. Roasting The concentrated ore is heated strongly in the reverberatory furnace, in excess of air. During roasting, i) Moisture is removed. ii) The volatile impurities are removed. iii) Sulphur, phosphorus, arsenic and antimony which are present as impurity are removed as volatile