“Norilsk Nickel” MMC, Moscow, Russia

M. N. Naftal, Head of Department, phone: 8 (495) 786-83-75

Center of Engineering Maintenance of Production of Polar Division of “Norilsk Nickel” MMC, Norilsk, Russia
A. F. Petrov, Head of Laboratory
T. P. Saverskaya, Chief Specialist
A. I. Yurev, Executive Officer
D. D. Karpushova, Processing Engineer

Technology of sulphate leaching of converter matte makes possible the efficient processing of products with different ratio of nickel and copper: from high-nickel (selective) to high-cuprous (collective). Increasing of nickel content, according to the copper in converter matte requires the changing of regime parameters of basic operations. Parameters and indices of main operations of technology of sulphate leaching of high-nickel converter matte (Polar Division of “Norilsk Nickel” MMC) were defined in laboratory conditions. These parameters and indices make it possible to obtain the high-qualitative sulphide copper product (<3.0% of Ni; <3.0% of Fe). The model sample of granular converter matte includes 52.2% of Ni, 19.7% of Cu, 1.3% of Co, 4.11% of Fe and 23.2% of S. According to this model sample, it was substantiated, that, in comparison with cuprous converter matte, the following operations are necessary to be done during the leaching process with the ratio of Ni:Cu = 2.65:1.00 for the purpose of obtaining of required quality of sulphide copper product:
— additional supplement of copper to autoclave operations with circulating anolyte of processing stage of electric extraction of nickel;

— return of a part of sulphide copper product (~15% from the mass of converter matte) into the first part of a process;
— increasing of operation time of autoclave-oxidation leaching from 30 to 75–90 min.
In optimal leaching conditions, there was obtained the condition copper product with 2.30–2.98% of Ni, 0.42–0.45% of Fe, 70.7–73.9% of Cu and 5.9–7.0% of Sel. Release of cake of sulphide copper product was 42.2–50.2% from the initial loading to operation. At the same time, extraction of sulphur into the solution from the converter matte was at the level of 46.1–47.5%. On the basis of obtained experimental data, there was defined the dependence of extraction of sulphur into the leaching solution from the nickel content in the sulphide copper product.

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