--- title: "Adoption of high oxygen bottom blowing in copper matte smelting: why is it taking so long?" date: 2015-08-27T15:44:00-04:00 author: jessica napert canonical_url: "https://www.bbaconsultants.com/en-ca/publications/adoption-of-high-oxygen-bottom-blowing-in-copper-matte-smelting-why-is-it-taking-so-long" section: Publications --- 1. In light of the rapid deployment of bottom blowing smelting in China over the last ten years, one has to wonder why it has taken the copper industry so long to adopt ultra-high oxygen enrichment via Savard-Lee type injectors. As early as 1976, Kellogg and Henderson suggested, in their landmark paper on energy usage in the copper industry, that ‘maximum use of oxygen enrichment of process air’ was one of seven ‘energy saving features’ for copper matte smelting and converting. Yet today, shrouded injection and high oxygen enrichment has not been implemented in copper bath smelting outside China and Vietnam. In this paper, the authors explore the reasons why bath smelting processes such as the Noranda Reactor and the Teniente Converter still operate around 40% oxygen enrichment, while the bottom blowing SKS/BBS process typically runs at 65 to 75% oxygen, with all three processes producing white metal. Are there fundamental metallurgical explanations for this striking difference beyond the long-standing skepticism towards high oxygen shrouded injection and its perceived high implementation cost? Note that this white paper was written in collaboration with François Larouche and Enzo Palumbo. It was the subject of a presentation at COM 2015 – The Conference of Metallurgists. To receive a copy, email us at . This content is for general information purposes only. All rights reserved ©BBA 1. ![Joel Kapusta canva](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/204413/Joel-Kapusta-canva.webp) Joël Kapusta, Ph.D. Senior Consulting Expert, Sonic Injection and Pyrometallurgy Read bio [ ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelkapusta/) **Senior consulting expert in sonic injection and pyrometallurgy,** Joël brings over 30 years of experience in mineral processing and extractive metallurgy, spanning production and engineering. His background includes process optimization, technology implementation, techno-economic studies, and industrial testing. **Key expertise** - Extractive metallurgy of nonferrous metals - Metallurgical process audits, optimization, and intensification - Submerged gas injection phenomena & fluid dynamics - Sonic injection technology design, piloting, and implementation **Major achievements :** Joël has contributed to 38 mining projects and more than 20 base metals projects, with mandates across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. **Approach and added value :** He leverages end-to-end metallurgical expertise to diagnose, optimize, and support process evolution in complex operating environments. - [ 27 Jul 2026 Mining and Metals Early tailings decisions shape long-term mine performance - ![Geraldine Cosset](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/206707/Geraldine-Cosset.webp) - ![Jared Purdy](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/212424/Jared-Purdy.webp) ](https://www.bbaconsultants.com/en-ca/insights/early-tailings-decisions-shape-long-term-mine-performance "Early tailings decisions shape long-term mine performance") - [ 02 Jul 2026 Mining and Metals Python: A key tool for data analysis in mineral processing - ![Charles Blais](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/211197/Charles-Blais.webp) - ![Juan Pablo Vergara](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/211266/Juan-Pablo-Vergara.webp) ](https://www.bbaconsultants.com/en-ca/insights/python-a-key-tool-for-data-analysis-in-mineral-processing "Python: A key tool for data analysis in mineral processing") - [ 19 Jun 2026 Mining and Metals Speed is earned early in projects - ![Mm employee men jean lheureux retouch web SQ LR BBA](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/204266/mm_employee_men_jean-lheureux_retouch_web_SQ_LR_BBA.webp) - ![Mm employee men benoit richard retouch web SQ LR BBA](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/203602/mm_employee_men_benoit-richard_retouch_web_SQ_LR_BBA.webp) ](https://www.bbaconsultants.com/en-ca/insights/speed-is-earned-early-in-projects "Speed is earned early in projects") - [ 17 Jun 2026 Industrial data platforms: building a solid foundation to optimize your operations - ![Pierre Boucher](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/2671/Pierre-Boucher.webp) Pierre Boucher, P.Eng. Senior Engineer, Operational Technology and Infrastructure ](https://www.bbaconsultants.com/en-ca/insights/industrial-data-platforms-building-a-solid-foundation-to-optimize-your-operations "Industrial data platforms: building a solid foundation to optimize your operations") [ See all ](https://www.bbaconsultants.com/en-ca/insights "Go to Publications listing page") Let’s think it further together [ Contact us ](https://www.bbaconsultants.com/en-ca/contact) 1. In light of the rapid deployment of bottom blowing smelting in China over the last ten years, one has to wonder why it has taken the copper industry so long to adopt ultra-high oxygen enrichment via Savard-Lee type injectors. As early as 1976, Kellogg and Henderson suggested, in their landmark paper on energy usage in the copper industry, that ‘maximum use of oxygen enrichment of process air’ was one of seven ‘energy saving features’ for copper matte smelting and converting. Yet today, shrouded injection and high oxygen enrichment has not been implemented in copper bath smelting outside China and Vietnam. In this paper, the authors explore the reasons why bath smelting processes such as the Noranda Reactor and the Teniente Converter still operate around 40% oxygen enrichment, while the bottom blowing SKS/BBS process typically runs at 65 to 75% oxygen, with all three processes producing white metal. Are there fundamental metallurgical explanations for this striking difference beyond the long-standing skepticism towards high oxygen shrouded injection and its perceived high implementation cost? Note that this white paper was written in collaboration with François Larouche and Enzo Palumbo. It was the subject of a presentation at COM 2015 – The Conference of Metallurgists. To receive a copy, email us at . This content is for general information purposes only. All rights reserved ©BBA