CPC C22B 15/006 (2013.01) [C25B 1/23 (2021.01)] | 10 Claims |
1. A process for reducing the content of oxygen, present as copper oxide, in molten metallic copper, which is subjected to a copper refining process, the process comprising:
feeding a fed gas comprising carbon dioxide to a solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) stack to produce a product gas comprising carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide;
injecting the product gas into the molten metallic copper through an injection system that disperses the product gas in bubbles throughout the molten metallic copper, wherein the carbon monoxide removes the oxygen from the molten metallic copper according to the equation:
CuO+CO→Cu+CO2
thereby increasing the purity of the molten metallic copper,
wherein the product gas from the SOEC stack is compressed and wherein the injection system disperses the product gas in bubbles throughout the molten metallic copper to enhance a contact surface between the product gas and the molten metallic copper.
|