Chemistry: electrical and wave energy – Processes and products – Electrostatic field or electrical discharge
Patent
1974-12-26
1976-06-08
Vertiz, Oscar R.
Chemistry: electrical and wave energy
Processes and products
Electrostatic field or electrical discharge
423 34, 423 48, 423140, 423150, 75 74, 75117, C25C 112
Patent
active
039620514
ABSTRACT:
A method is provided for leaching comminuted nickeliferous sulfide matte containing by weight about 20% to 75% nickel, about 5% to 50% copper, non-stoichiometric sulfur in the range of over 4% to about 20%, over 0.5% to about 15 or 20% iron, the sum of the nickel, copper and sulfur contents being at least about 80% of the matte composition, with the balance gangue or slag and incidental impurities.
The matte, because of the iron content, is first granulated by quenching molten matte from a temperature at least about 10.degree.C above its solidus-liquidus temperature but below its boiling point, following which the matte is comminuted and subjected to atmospheric leaching to dissolve nickel selectively therefrom using a spent copper electrolyte solution containing sulfuric acid having a pH ranging up to about 2 while aerating said solution to cause the pH to rise to above 5 and effect substantial precipitation of copper and iron. Preferably, a two-stage atmospheric leaching is employed, the first stage in which the solution is aerated until the solution reaches a pH level of about 3.5 to 4.5 and a second stage atmospheric leaching step in which the aeration is replaced with a stronger oxidant, such as oxygen, in order to speed up the atmospheric leaching of the matte and to complete further said atmospheric leaching until the aqueous copper and iron are each reduced to less than 20 ppm as evidenced by a rise in pH to over about 5.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1756092 (1930-04-01), Lathe
patent: 3577231 (1971-05-01), Pesses
patent: 3616331 (1971-10-01), O'Neill
patent: 3741752 (1973-06-01), Evans et al.
patent: 3773494 (1973-11-01), Tuwiner
Toivanen et al. "Nickel Refining in Finland", C.I.M. Bulletin, June, 1964, pp. 653-658.
Llanos "Atmospheric Leaching of Matte at the Port Nickel Refinery", C.I.M. Bulletin, Feb., 1974, pp. 74-81.
Blandon Antonio E.
Queneau Paul B.
Symens Raymond D.
Amax Inc.
Hearn Brian E.
Kalil Eugene J.
Serijan Kasper T.
Vertiz Oscar R.
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