The work presents experiment results from the area of copper casting technology and chosen examples of alloyed copper. At present,
copper casting technology is applied in many branches of industrial manufacturing, especially in the sector of construction,
communications, arms and power engineering. Alloyed copper, containing slight additions of different elements and having special
physio-chemical properties, is used in a special range of applications. Copper technology and alloyed copper analyses have been presented,
these materials being used for cast manufacturing for power engineering. The quality of casts has been assessed, based on their
microstructure analysis, chemical content and the cast properties. During the research, special deoxidizing and modifying agents were
applied for copper and chosen examples of alloyed copper; also exemplary samples were tested with the help of metallographic analysis,
electrical conductivity and gaseous impurities research.
There are presents the internal recycling in anode furnace, in addition to mainly blister copper and converter copper. During the process
there arise the two types of semi-finished products intended for further pyro metallurgical processing: anode copper and anode slag. The
stream of liquid blister copper enters into the anode furnace treatment, in which the losses are recovered, e.g. copper, resulting from
oxidation and reduction of sulfides, oxides and the oxidation of metallic compounds of lead, zinc and iron. In the liquid phase there are
still gaseous states, which gives the inverse relationship relating to the solid phase, wherein the gases found an outlet in waste gas or
steam. The results of chemical analysis apparently differ from each other, because crystallite placement, the matrix structure and the
presence of other phases and earth elements are not compared, which can be regained in the process of electrorefining. One should not
interpret negatively smaller proportion of copper in the alloy, since during the later part of the production more elements can be obtained,
for example from sludge, such as platinum group metals and lanthanides. According to the research the quality of blister copper, to a large
extent, present in the alloy phase to many other elements, which can be recovered.
This investigation is concerned with the extraction of nugget copper particles from copper recovery plant slag which recycled of copper scrap. For this purpose, the Falcon concentrator was used because of its enhanced gravity properties. The Falcon concentrator has a fast spinning bowl which creates a centrifugal force to separate fine size minerals on the basis of their density differences. In the tests, the tailings of the copper recovery plant were used and the test sample was divided into two groups and one of them was classified in narrow particle sizes. The operational parameters were determined as particle size, centrifugal force and washing water pressures. The water pressure and centrifugal force have an inversely proportional relationship. Because of this phenomenon, the G/P parameter was created. The test conditions were applied to the whole distribution sample and narrow size distribution samples in the same way.
The test results indicate that the average grade was elevated from 1.04% to 6.50% with the recovery of 15.07% and 619% enrichment ratio for narrow sizes, whereas grade was elevated to 4.36% with 13.24% recovery and 415.94% enrichment ratio for the whole distribution. As a result, the recovery and grade values of concentrates are not good enough for gravity concentration process for both samples. However, this process was applied to the double recycled material and the lower recovery, grade values can be tolerated because of concentrate is nugget copper metal. The concentrate can also be washed in cleaning table for increasing the grade value for adding to initial feed of plant. This process can, therefore, supply important earnings not only economically but also environmentally.
“Wartowice” tailings pond was closed in 1989, resulting in 232,4 ha tailings pile requiring reclamation. The major problem is heavy metals presence and poor nutrient conditions and physicochemical structure of soil which disturbs the plants development. In order to assess the real condition of studied area the complete biological characteristic has been done. The physicochemical conditions were assessed altogether with phytosociological, microbiological and toxicological studies of deposits. We recorded only 27 species of vascular plants belonging to 15 families on the tailings pond of which 5 belong to Rosaceae, 4 to Asteraceae and 3 to Poaceae and Saliceae. Species inhabiting the tailings depended on their dispersal capacity, metal tolerance and rhizome strategy. Microbiological analyses revealed the low number of bacteria and fungi on the tailings pond, apart from the small uplift area where the plants were indentified. Bacteria identified on the tailings pond were classified to 8 genera. The low number of bacteria suggests the lack of nutrients which affects the development of soil microflora. Toxicity tests showed that post-flotation sludge is not toxic to microorganisms because of its high pH. Some plants, such as lucerne could even influence positively the microorganisms development what has been proved in our studies. The tailings toxicity was higher towards producers, where Secale cereale appeared to be the most sensitive species. Amendment with topsoil from adjacent areas can influence positively the phytotoxic properties of tailings and enrich them into native seeds.
In this study, the aim was to model the toxic effect of copper (Cu) and analyse the removal of Cu in aqueous Saharan and non-Saharan mediums by Lemna minor. Two separate test groups were formed: with Saharan dust (S) and without Saharan dust (WS). These test groups were exposed to 3 different Cu concentrations (0.05, 0.50 and 5.00 ppm). Time, concentration, and group-dependent removal effi ciencies were compared using the non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test and statistically signifi cant differences were found. The optimum removal values were tested at the highest concentration 79.6% in the S medium and observed on the 4th day for all test groups. The lowest removal value (16%) was observed at 0.50 ppm on the 1st day in the WS medium. When the S medium and WS medium were compared, in all test groups Cu was removed more successfully in the S medium than the WS medium contaminated by Cu in 3 different concentrations of (0.05 ppm, 0.50 ppm, 5.00 ppm). The regression analysis was also tested for all prediction models. Different models were performed and it was found that cubic models show the highest predicted values (R2). The R2 values of the estimation models were found to be at the interval of 0.939–0.991 in the WS medium and 0.995–1.000 in the S medium.
In the vicinity of copper foundry “Głogów” agricultural farms exist for 35 years. The aim of the work was to determine if biotypes of common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L.) growing for many years in heavy metals polluted environment showed any differences in the efficacy of herbicides’ control. Seeds of C. album were collected near Głogów, from four cultivated fields with different content of heavy metals in soil (mainly copper). From these seeds experimental plants were grown in greenhouse conditions. In greenhouse experiments the efficacy of control of C. album by different pyridate (6-chloro-3-phenylpyridazin-4-yl S-octyl thiocarbonate) doses also in combinations with 0.2% CuSO4 was compared. Also the efficacy of pyridate in control of C. album seedlings which were grown in pots with soils collected from the vicinity of smelter was tested. Additionally, in growth chamber, the effect of increasing copper concentration on shoot and root growth was analyzed. Pyridate showed similar efficacy on tested populations of C. album without respect of soil contamination level, seeds’ origin and presence of copper ions in spray solution in which herbicide was used in full dose. Statistical differences were observed when herbicide was applied at ⅓ pyridate full dose, especially in the presence of Cu2+ ions in spray solution.
There are two methods to produce primary copper: hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical. Copper concentrates, from which copper
matte is melted, constitute the charge at melting primary copper in the pyrometallurgical process. This process consists of a few stages, of
which the basic ones are roasting and smelting. Smelting process may be bath and flash. Slag from copper production, on the end of
process contain less 0,8%. It is treat as a waste or used other field, but only in a few friction. The slag amount for waste management or
storage equaled 11 741 – 16 011 million tons in 2011. This is a serious ecological problem. The following slags were investigated: slag
originated from the primary copper production process in the flash furnace of the Outtokumpuja Company in HM Głogów 2 (Sample S2):
the same slag after the copper removal performed according the up to now technology (Sample S1): slag originated from the primary
copper production process in the flash furnace of the Outtokumpuja Company in HM Głogów 2, after the copper removal performed
according the new technology (Sample S3). In practice, all tested slags satisfy the allowance criteria of storing on the dumping grounds of
wastes other than hazardous and neutral.
The scope of work included the launch of the process of refining slag suspension in a gas oven using a variety of technological additives.
After the refining process (in the context of copper recovery), an assessment of the effect of selected reagents at the level of the slag
refining suspension (in terms of copper recovery). Method sieve separated from the slag waste fraction of metallic, iron - silicate and
powdery waste. Comparison of these photographs macroscopic allowed us to evaluate the most advantageous method of separating
metallic fraction from the slag. After applying the sample A (with KF2 + NaCl) we note that in some parts of the slag are still large
amounts of metallic fraction. The fraction of slag in a large majority of the elements has the same size of 1 mm, and a larger portion of the
slag, the size of which is from 2 to 6 mm. Definitely the best way is to remove the copper by means of the component B (with NaCl ) and
D (with KF2
). However, as a result of removing the copper by means of component C (with CaO) were also obtained a relatively large
number of tiny droplets of copper, which was problematic during segregation. In both cases we were able to separate the two fractions in a
fast and simple manner.
The suspension of the copper droplets in the post-processing slag taken directly from the KGHM-Polska Miedź S.A. Factory (from the
direct-to-blister technology as performed in the flash furnace) was subjected to the special treatment with the use of the one of the typical
industrial reagent and with the complex reagent newly patented by the authors. This treatment was performed in the BOLMET S.A.
Company in the semi-industrial conditions. The result of the CaCO3, and Na2CO3 chemicals influence on the coagulation and subsequent
sedimentation of copper droplets on the crucible bottom were subjected to comparison with the sedimentation forced by the mentioned
complex reagent. The industrial chemicals promoted the agglomeration of copper droplets but the coagulation was arrested / blocked by
the formation of the lead envelope. Therefore, buoyancy force forced the motion of the partially coagulated copper droplets towards the
liquid slag surface rather than sedimentation on the crucible bottom. On the other hand, the complex reagent was able to influence the
mechanical equilibrium between copper droplets and some particles of the liquid slag as well as improve the slag viscosity. Finally, the
copper droplets coagulated successfully and generally, were subjected to a settlement on the crucible bottom as desired / requested.
In the paper an analysis of the influence of two parameters on the die wear, i.e. the shape of the die and the backpull with the specified force values has been presented. The conical and curve-profile tools have been selected to determine an influence of the die geometry on its wear, and the backpull force has been tested with the use of conical dies. The research was conducted for the drawing of copper wire by sintered carbide die with a mesh diameter of 3 mm. A fixed draw value of 30% relative gap loss was assumed. The axisymmetric numerical model of the drawing process was built and modeled in the MARC/Mentat commercial program for nonlinear and contact issues. As a result of the tests, wear of the dies according to their shape was determined. In addition, for the conical die the drawing force and the force of the metal pressure on the die using different values of the force of the contraction were calculated, as well as wear of the conical die according to the value of the applied backpull force. It has been shown that in the case of the arc die, the distribution of pressure and stress is more uniform over the entire length of the contact zone compared to the conical die. The highest stress gradients occurred in the area of the transition of the crushing part into the drawing part of the die, which caused that the use of the conical die in this area was more than twice as large as the arc die. In addition, on the example of a conical die, it was shown to what extent the depth of its wear decreases with an increase of the test pull force in the range (0-400) of Newtons.
Copper slag is a by-product obtained during smelting and refining of copper. Copper smelting slag typically contains about 1 wt.% copper and 40 wt.% iron depending upon the initial ore quality and the furnace type. Main components of copper slag are iron oxide and silica. These exist in copper slag mainly in the form of fayalite (2FeO ·SiO2). This study was intended to recover pig iron from the copper smelting slag by reduction smelting method. At the reaction temperature of below 1400°С the whole copper smelting slag was not smelted, and some agglomerated, showing a mass in a sponge form. The recovery behavior of pig iron from copper smelting slag increases with increasing smelting temperature and duration. The recovery rate of pig iron varied greatly depending on the reaction temperature.
The research focuses on assessing the metal content, mainly copper, lead, iron and also silver in metallurgical slag samples from the area
where historical metallurgical industry functioned. In the smelter located in Mogiła, near Krakow (southern Poland), whose operation is
confirmed in sources from 1469, copper was probably refined as well as silver was separated from copper. Based on the change of
chemical and soil phase content and also taking cartographic and historical data into account, considering the restrictions resulting from
the modern land use the area was determined whose geochemical mapping can point to the location of the 15th century Jan Thurzo’s
smelter in Mogiła near Krakow. Moreover, using the same approach with the samples of this kind here as with hazardous waste, an
attempt has been made to assess their impact on the environment. Thereby, taking the geoenvironmental conditions into account, potential
impact of the industrial activity has been assessed, which probably left large scale changes in the substratum, manifested in the structure,
chemical content and soil phase changes. Discovering areas which are contaminated above the standard value can help to identify
historical human activities, and finding the context in artefacts allows to treat geochemical anomalies as a geochronological marker. For
this purpose the best are bed sediments, at present buried in the ground, of historical ditches draining the area of the supposed smelter.
Correlating their qualities with analogical research of archeologically identified slags and other waste material allows for reconstructing
the anthropopressure stages and the evaluation of their effects. The operation of Jan Thurzo’s smelter is significant for the history of
mining and metallurgy of Poland and Central and Eastern Europe.
The current rockburst hazard conditions in the copper mines are the consequence of mining-induced seismicity of the rock strata whilst the majority of registered rockbursts have been caused by high-energy seismic events. T he analysis of seismic activity in recent years indicates that the region of the Rudna mine is the region of the highest seismic activity. This paper is an attempt at evaluating the seismicity levels in the Rudna mine in the period from 2006-2015, within the entire mine and in its particular sections. Key parameters of seismic activity include the number of registered seismic events, total energy emission levels, and a unit energy factor. The variability of Gutenberg -Richter (GR) parameters are analyzed and the epicenters’ locations are investigated with respect to the stope position. T he distinction is made between low-energy (103 ≤ As < 105 J) and high-energy (As ≥ 105J) seismic events ahead of the stope, in the opening-up cross-throughs and in the gob areas. It appears that the risk level of a high-energy event occurrence in the R udna mine has not changed in recent years and has remained on a high level whilst the differences in seismic activity, in particular mine sections, are attributed to the varied extraction height and varied thickness of rockburst-prone carbonate layers in the roof of the copper ore deposit. The analysis of the epicenters’ locations with respect to the stope reveals that no matter what the seismic energy levels, the largest number of rockbursts are registered in the opening-up cross-through zone. Low-energy tremors are mostly located in the gob areas, high-energy events occur mostly ahead of the stope. T hus, the evaluation of the seismicity conditions in the Rudna mine seems to positively verify the relationship between the number of registered events and the levels of generated seismic energy, taking the local geological and mining conditions and the specificity of the room and pillar mining method into account.
Mining-induced seismicity, particularly high-energy seismic events, is a major factor giving rise to dynamic phenomena within the rock strata. Rockbursts and stress relief events produce the most serious consequences in underground mines, are most difficult to predict and tend to interact with other mining hazards, thus making control measures difficult to implement. In the context of steadily increasing mining depth within copper mines in the Legnica-Głogów Copper Belt Area (Poland) alongside the gradually decreasing effective mining thickness, a study of the causes and specificity of mining-induced seismicity in specific geological and mining settings may improve the effectiveness of the prevention and control measures taken to limit the negative impacts of rockbursts in underground mine workings, thus ensuring safe working conditions for miners. This study investigates the presumed relationship between the mined ore deposit thickness and fundamental parameters of mining-induced seismicity, with the main focus on the actual locations of their epicenters with respect to the working face in commonly used room-and-pillar systems. Data recalled in this study was supplied by the O/ZG Rudna geophysics station. Based on information about the actual ore deposit thickness in particular sections of the mines (Rudna Główna, Rudna Północna, Rudna Zachodnia) and recent reports on seismic activity in this area, three panels were selected for further studies (each in different mine region), where the ore deposit thickness was varied (panel G-7/5 – Rudna Główna, panel XX/1 – Rudna Północna, panel XIX/1 – Rudna Zachodnia). Data from seismic activity reports in those regions was used for energetic and quantitative analysis of seismic events in the context of the epicenter location with respect to the selected mining system components: undisturbed strata, working face and abandoned excavations. In consideration of the available rockburst control methods and preventive measures, all events (above 1 × 103 J) registered in the database were analysed to infer about the global rockburst hazard level in the panel and phenomena induced (provoked) by blasting were considered in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the implemented control measures.