Mineral Liberation of Magnetite-Precipitated Copper Slag Obtained via Molten Oxidation by Using High-Voltage Electrical Pulses

Our proposed method, i.e., a controlled molten oxidation process under 1 vol pct oxygen, leads to selective precipitation of magnetite in a copper smelter slag for downstream iron separation. In the present study, the preroasted magnetite precipitated copper slag was treated via magnetite liberation, which was realized by using high-voltage electrical pulses. The mineral distribution was determined by using a laser microscope and its image analysis; and it revealed that the 100-µm under-sieve product contains approximately 70 pct of liberated mineral particles. The study affirms the positive outcome of using this new technology for comminution to obtain micrometer-scale particles that yield monominerals via selective liberation. Using magnetic separation, iron was capable of finally separating into high- and low-iron-bearing concentrate and tailing that can be used in specific applications.