--- 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/es-cl/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. Expert sénior en consultoría, inyección sónico y pirometalurgia Leer bio [ ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelkapusta/) **Experto sénior en consultoría en inyección sónico y pirometalurgia,** Joël cuenta con más de 30 años de experiencia en procesamiento de minerales y metalurgia extractiva, abarcando producción e ingeniería. Su trayectoria incluye optimización de procesos, implementación de tecnologías, estudios tecno-económicos y pruebas industriales. **Áreas de especialización:** - Metalurgia extractiva de metales no ferrosos - Auditorías metalúrgicas de procesos, optimización e intensificación - Fenómenos de inyección de gas sumergido y dinámica de fluidos - Diseño, pilotaje e implementación de tecnología de inyección sónico **Principales logros:** Joël ha contribuido a 38 proyectos mineros y más de 20 proyectos de metales básicos, con mandatos en Europa, África, Asia y América. **Enfoque y valor añadido:** Aprovecha su experiencia metalúrgica integral para diagnosticar, optimizar y apoyar la evolución de los procesos en entornos operativos complejos. - [ 17 ago 2026 Structural engineering early phase: unlocking value through early decisions - ![Nicolas Samson](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/197852/Nicolas-Samson.webp) Nicolas Samson, P.Eng. 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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