Why is copper matte put in the silica lined converter?


Copper matte contains Cu2S and FeS. When a blast of hot air is passed through molten matte took in a silica lined convertor, FeS present in matte is oxidized to FeO which combines with Silica (SiO2) to form FeSiO3, slag.



When the whole of iron has been removed as slag, some of the Cu2S undergoes oxidation to form Cu2O which then reacts with more Cu2O to form copper metal.



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