Patent ID: RE44850

Claim:
A process for converting a copper sulfide matte to blister copper, wherein the process includes the steps of: adding the copper sulfide matte and flux to an agitated iron based silicate slag phase; and injecting, from a discharge tip at the lower end of a top-submerged lance, an oxidizing gas suitable for reacting with the matte to produce blister copper which forms or adds to a continuous blister copper phase below the iron based silicate slag phase; wherein the depth of the iron based silicate slag phase and the level at which the discharge tip of the lance is located in the slag phase are such that the injected oxidizing gas agitates the slag phase and reacts with copper sulfide matte dispersed in the slag phase but so that a jet or stream of the injected oxidizing gas is unable to pass through a lower surface of the slag phase and the oxidizing gas within the jet or stream is precluded from contacting the continuous copper phase.