Fundamental Investigation for Processing of Pb-Cu-S-Bearing Materials
Taufiq Hidayat
Lin Chen
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
- The authors shall provide details of the thermodynamic databases used in the calculation, are the databases publicly available or are they private databases developed by authors?
- The authors shall give detailed description on the type/brand of SEM use in the study and whether standards were used in the measurements.
- The authors have not explained the possible interaction between slag and Al2O3, and how it will affect Pb concentration in the slag.
Author Response
Dear author, pls find reply below.
- The authors shall provide details of the thermodynamic databases used in the calculation, are the databases publicly available or are they private databases developed by authors?
Ok, incorporated.
2.The authors shall give detailed description on the type/brand of SEM use in the study and whether standards were used in the measurements.
Ok, incorporated.
3.The authors have not explained the possible interaction between slag and Al2O3, and how it will affect Pb concentration in the slag.
Understood, the focus of the experiments were on the phase equilibrium between metal and matte. For all tests the same alsint crucible was used and the Al2O3 content was always below 10 wt%. No critical spinel formation could be observed and Pb content was mainly responding on applied CO/CO2-atmosphere.
This will have none impact on the findings and explained results.The authors would prefer to skip this point.
Thanks for your review,
Regards,
Christoph Zschiesche
Reviewer 2 Report
In this manuscript, the impact of various oxygen potential on the formation of the condensed phases in Cu-Pb-metallurgical process were investigated, and the distribution coefficients for Cu, Pb, As, Sb, Sn and Ni between different phases are discussed. In general, this paper presents meaningful and challenging work. However, there are some questions that need be revised before this article can be accepted.
- Lines 80-90 should add reference.
2) Some experiments lack key parameters, such as the mass of mixed materials in Lines 212-217. In addition, it is recommended to list the specific contents of main elements in Table 3.
3) Some figures need to be reprocessed, such as:
- the superposition of the two pictures in Figure 3 is unsightly,
- ensure that the consistency of the font and the correctness of the chemical formula (superscript and subscript) in each figure,
- Figure 8 should show which ordinate scale corresponds to wt.% Fe, wt.% Pb, and Fe/Pb, respectively,
- the vertical axis of some figures is missing (Fig. 3,4,9,10,12).
4) In Fig. 6, the brighter areas (32, 33) and the darker areas (34, 35) are identified as speiss phase and crude lead phase, respectively. But it is generally believed that lead phase with a larger atomic weight will be brighter than speiss phase whose main elements are As, Sb, Sn and Ni. Please provide the data of ESD analysis and explain it.
5) It is mentioned in the Conclusions that ‘the quenching of the sample is a huge challenge’, but it can be seen from the SEM image that the quenching process is quite successful. It is recommended to describe the quenching process in more detail and give the actual photos of sample after quenching.
6) The research purpose should be clearly addressed in the introduction section, and the conclusions based on the work conducted should be given in the conclusion section.
Author Response
- Lines 80-90 should add reference.
Ok, incorporated.
2) Some experiments lack key parameters, such as the mass of mixed materials in Lines 212-217. In addition, it is recommended to list the specific contents of main elements in Table 3.
Ok, the mass is incorporated. Table 3 need to stay is it is. It is possible to calculate all relevant elements from provided ratio. The details are align with communication guideline of Aurubis.
3) Some figures need to be reprocessed, such as:
- the superposition of the two pictures in Figure 3 is unsightly,
Ok, incorporated. Now main focus area is displayed.
- ensure that the consistency of the font and the correctness of the chemical formula (superscript and subscript) in each figure,
Alright.
- Figure 8 should show which ordinate scale corresponds to wt.% Fe, wt.% Pb, and Fe/Pb, respectively,
Ok, figure is updated
- the vertical axis of some figures is missing (Fig. 3,4,9,10,12).
Updated
4) In Fig. 6, the brighter areas (32, 33) and the darker areas (34, 35) are identified as speiss phase and crude lead phase, respectively. But it is generally believed that lead phase with a larger atomic weight will be brighter than speiss phase whose main elements are As, Sb, Sn and Ni. Please provide the data of ESD analysis and explain it.
Ok, incorporated. Look at lines 240 and following
5) It is mentioned in the Conclusions that ‘the quenching of the sample is a huge challenge’, but it can be seen from the SEM image that the quenching process is quite successful. It is recommended to describe the quenching process in more detail and give the actual photos of sample after quenching.
Yes challenging can be a relative word but it was as you can see from the experimental setup. There was some development required to get good quenching. For instance to reduce the sample mass down to 4 g.
6) The research purpose should be clearly addressed in the introduction section, and the conclusions based on the work conducted should be given in the conclusion section.
Tried to get it added. Feel that the conclusion provides already a description of authors thinking how the findings / results can be applied on real industrial environment. That’s basically the approach to combine fundamental research and present findings in an easy applicable way for operations.
Reviewer 3 Report
Dear authors!
I think your work is essential for improving the treatment of Pb-Cu-S-bearing materials by EAF smelting in Aurubis AG, but the scientific significance your work is not having. Besides your manuscript content errors.
Some comments are placed below:
It would be best to significantly improve the introduction by adding more links about recent progress in treating Pb-Cu-S-Bearing materials.
Line 35: What is PM?
Line 44: You should replace the figure's name on "The flow-sheet treatment of Pb-Cu-S-bearing materials on Aurubis AG" or similar.
Line 80: Please, use the identical type of references.
Line 123: You should improve the quality of images.
Line 134: You should indicate used databases.
Line 134: You should indicate the chemical and phase composition of slag and calculation conditions.
Line 152: It would be better if you used Origin software of similar for images represent.
Line 195: Equations 2 and 4 contain errors.
Line 211: You should add model and brand analytical equipment. Why is ratio CaO and SiO2, Pb/Cu, Cu/S in wt%? You should indicate in the table the total chemical composition of feed.
Line 229: You should add model and brand analytical equipment. You should add the table with chemical composition in investigated points.
Line 251: You should increase signatures on the image.
You should add discussion part and to indicate how result can improve treatment of Pb-Cu-S-bearing materials
Author Response
I think your work is essential for improving the treatment of Pb-Cu-S-bearing materials by EAF smelting in Aurubis AG, but the scientific significance your work is not having. Besides your manuscript content errors.
Thanks for you honest opinion. Saying this, pls feel free to provide source of literature and academic studies about polymetallic material processing which emphasize on speiss formation. In particular I would be interested in that work which was done in collaboration with industrial sponsors.
Some comments are placed below:
It would be best to significantly improve the introduction by adding more links about recent progress in treating Pb-Cu-S-Bearing materials.
Line 35: What is PM?
Precious Metals, now incorporated in the text
Line 44: You should replace the figure's name on "The flow-sheet treatment of Pb-Cu-S-bearing materials on Aurubis AG" or similar.
Done
Line 80: Please, use the identical type of references.
Done
Line 123: You should improve the quality of images.
Done
Line 134: You should indicate used databases.
Done
Line 134: You should indicate the chemical and phase composition of slag and calculation conditions.
Provided that information what was authorized by Aurubis. No further assay from production sample possible.
Line 152: It would be better if you used Origin software of similar for images represent.
Unfortunately, I have no access to Origin.
Line 195: Equations 2 and 4 contain errors.
2 what’s wrong in here? Also in equation 4?
Line 211: You should add model and brand analytical equipment. Why is ratio CaO and SiO2, Pb/Cu, Cu/S in wt%? You should indicate in the table the total chemical composition of feed.
The table is setup align with Aurubis communication guideline. You can calculate every main element by provided ratios.
Line 229: You should add model and brand analytical equipment. Done You should add the table with chemical composition in investigated points. Done
Line 251: You should increase signatures on the image.
OK
You should add discussion part and to indicate how result can improve treatment of Pb-Cu-S-bearing materials
Pls look at conclusions
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
The authors have responded to the concerns and acceptance is recommended.
Author Response
Thanks.
Reviewer 3 Report
Dear authors!
I find several articles about phase equilibria in the Pb-Cu-Ag-S system:
https://doi.org/10.1007/s42461-020-00329-z, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.calphad.2020.102247, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-020-04326-x,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-37070-1_30,
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11669-019-00764-6,
https://doi.org/10.1016/S1003-6326(14)63180-0
10.1127/0935-1221/2009/0021-1942
Why do you not refer to these articles in your manuscript? What is new knowledge given in your manuscript?
Point 1:
The Equilibrium constant for reaction (2) is K=(PCO2)^2/(Pco)^2*(PO2) and
PO2=(PCO2)^2/(PCO)^2*K
I think you should revise the introduction and conclusion parts and compare your results with other researchers' results.
Author Response
Dear reviewer,
point 1 is corrected. Somewhat the formula got mixed up. Thanks for correction.
According to the articles you brought up. Within the research for this publication the industrial sponsors (as Aurubis) were supporting the University of queensland group.
"
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the Australian Research Council Linkage program LP190101020, and industry partners, Atlantic Copper, Aurubis, BHP Billiton Olympic Dam Operation, Kazzinc Glencore, Outotec Oy (Espoo), Anglo American Platinum, Umicore, Rio Tinto Kennecott, Peñoles and Boliden for providing funding and technical support."
The most of the work was done at the area of copper smelting with high share of minors. The corner of lead smelting was not covered that well. In particular Ni was not considered at all. That's completely new to the game.
The work presented in the paper has not the intention to question the equilibrium tests carried out by UQ. It has the purpose to show results as real industrial materials are used with a very complex experimental setup. May as you know, there is no speiss phase at 1,250°C. It's a part of the metal bullion. So, no work which you are referring to, will provide a conclusion on how the speiss will look like after cooling.
The presented paper will provide this.
Hope you can see what I am trying to make.
Regards
Round 3
Reviewer 3 Report
Dear authors!
Your manuscript contains only ten references in the references list, moreover only two references after the 2017 year. You should add more widely overview results of other authors and indicate the main differences in your results from different authors results.
Author Response
Dear reviewer,
attached revised version of the manuscript. Pls check the intoduced cite. As you recognize, the work of UQ is linked in a couple of articles which describe the improvements of the database. The intend of those articles is different to that one. Furthermore, it is important to understand that speiss is not speiss. It depends on the process conditions which kind of speiss is generated. In [4] there is a literature review.
Brgds
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
