Separation of copper from steel

Abstract

Copper has been separated from iron and steel by chlorine–air mixtures at 800°C. It was found that, contrary to predictions based upon thermodynamics, cupric chloride was the favoured copper product rather than cuprous chloride. This was due to the high vapour pressure of cupric chloride. It was found that in order to prevent the reaction between iron and cupric chloride it was necessary to preoxidise the iron to form an impervious oxide film. Copper contents lower than 0·05 wt-% were readily obtained after 10 min exposure to the gas, even when starting with several per cent of copper mixed with the iron or steel.

Keywords:

• COPPER
• IRON
• STEEL
• CHLORINATION