Bogatyrev D.M., Petrov G.V., Tsymbulov L.B. Pyrometallurgical Technologies for Processing Sulfide Copper-Nickel Ores with a High Content of Platinum Group Metals: Current State and Prospects of Development

DOI: 10.18503/1995-2732-2022-20-1-14-24

Abstract

Problem Statement (Relevance). An analysis of the current state of world production of platinum group metals indicates that a significant proportion of platinum group metals are produced during the processing of copper-nickel sulfide concentrates. At the same time, there is a variety of technological methods for processing sulfide copper-nickel concentrates, characterized by different levels of slag-forming impurities, different contents of precious metals, different ratio of copper to nickel, as well as different energy capacity of raw materials, determined, as a rule, by the sulfur content in the concentrate. At the same time, the choice of the optimal concentrate processing technology is a key factor in the technological parameters of the process, including the extraction of platinum group metals into the target product. Methods Applied. An analytical review of the current state of pyrometallurgical technologies for processing sulfide copper-nickel raw materials with a high content of platinum group metals. Novelty. 1. The authors have analyzed technological indicators of pyrometallurgical processing of sulfide copper-nickel concentrates containing platinum group metals. 2. The paper contains characteristics of the main facilities used in matte smelting of copper-nickel concentrates. 3. The authors have made a comparative assessment of the facilities used at various metallurgical enterprises of the world for melting copper-nickel concentrates with a higher content of platinum group metals. Results. The paper describes processing technologies of high-sulfide copper-nickel concentrates, primarily presented at enterprises of Russia and Canada, as well as high-magnesia concentrates of South Africa. It has been established that a main factor influencing the choice of a particular schedule for processing sulfide copper-nickel concentrates containing platinum group metals is, first of all, their mineralogical composition. Having analyzed main technological indicators of the main divisions of enterprises, processing sulfide copper-nickel ores with a high concentration of platinum group metals, the authors determined and provided a rationale for main areas of development of technologies for processing sulfide copper-nickel ores. The paper presents options of pyrometallurgical processing of concentrates by intensive mixing of the melt with an oxygen and air mixture. Practical Relevance. Having analyzed main technological processes of pyrometallurgical processing of sulfide copper-nickel ores, containing platinum group metals, the authors identified the most efficient ones, which primarily include autogenous bubbling processes.

Keywords

Bogatyrev D.M., Petrov G.V., Tsymbulov L.B. Pyrometallurgical Technologies for Processing Sulfide Copper-Nickel Ores with a High Content of Platinum Group Metals: Current State and Prospects of Development. Vestnik Magnitogorskogo Gosudarstvennogo Tekhnicheskogo Universiteta im. G.I. Nosova [Vestnik of Nosov Magnitogorsk State Technical University]. 2022, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 14–24. https://doi.org/10.18503/1995-2732-2022-20-1-14-24

For citation

Cheban A.Yu. Substantiation of a Method for Processing Valuable Mineral Raw Materials Contained in Very Thin Ore Deposits. Vestnik Magnitogorskogo Gosudarstvennogo Tekhnicheskogo Universiteta im. G.I. Nosova [Vestnik of Nosov Magnitogorsk State Technical University]. 2022, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 5–13. https://doi.org/10.18503/1995-2732-2022-20-1-5-13

Dmitrii M. Bogatyrev – postgraduate student of the Department of Metallurgy, Saint Petersburg Mining University, Saint Petersburg, Russia. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. ORCID 0000-0002-2297-6608

Georgii V. Petrov – DrSc (Eng.), Professor of the Department of Metallurgy, Saint Petersburg Mining University, Saint Petersburg, Russia. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. ORCID 0000-0003-2382-5235

Leonid B. Tsymbulov – DrSc (Eng.), Professor, Director of the Research and Development Department, LLC Gipronickel Institute, Saint Petersburg, Russia.

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