Refining Metals with Sulphur

ecent work on decoppering lead is reviewed; CuS is formed rapidly even from dilute solutions of copper in lead. he mechanism of decoppering is discussed, and an explanation for the retention of metals such as silver in lead is dvanced. As decoppering tin appears to be an analogous process, the Cu-Sn-S system is studied at 300¦C. CuS, hich is not, an equilibrium product, is found in decoppering drosses. In the removal of nickel from lead, Ni3pb2S2 formed; preliminary measurements show the equilibrium nickel content to be greater than that obtained by tirring in sulphur. Decoppering bismuth is thermodynamically favoured, but is complicated by the occurrence of uBiS2. The Cu-Pb-S system is the only one of the four studied where the equilibrium can be calculated simply, as ' resence of ternary sulphide or other phases invalidates calculations based on binary data.