Minsk Mechanical Works named after S. I. Vavilov — the managing company of Belarusian Optical and Mechanical Association, Minsk, Belarus:

B. A. Gildenberg, Head of Technological Bureau, e-mail: b.a.gildenberg@gmail.com

Extraction of platinum group metals from the wastes of fire-clay lining of glass-melting apparatuses is carried out using the pyrohydrometallurgical processes, which have a long production cycle and exclude the possibility of waste recycling at waste-forming enterprises. There are known the flotation and gravitational methods of waste treatment. However, the degree of platinum group metals extraction does not exceed 80% at low content in concentrate and significant content in tailings (up to 0.1%). Physical and chemical composition of fire-clay lining, and size and occurrence forms of platinum group metals, were researched for development of resource-saving technology of recycling of fire-clay mass with short production cycle. Concentration of platinum group metals was carried out, using a centrifugal concentrator TsVK-100-2M (ЦВК-100-2М). There were obtained the data on the concentrate yield, according to the L:S ratio, with different size of raw materials’ particles. Determination of platinum metals content in tailings was carried out by method of assay and spectral analysis of representative samples. The sampling of wastes was carried out by mechanical pipe sampler. There was developed the technology of concentrating of fire-clay lining wastes with extraction of up to 90% of platinum group metals. The content of platinum group metals in tailings made up 0.04%. The proposed technology can be implemented at the enterprises, which operate the glass-melting apparatuses, or at the regional centers of recycling of scrap and wastes, containing precious metals. Physical and chemical composition of molds and tailings has a high degree of uniformity and guarantees the average sampling possibility.

The works were carried out by the author at the production facilities of Scientific and Production Republican Unitary Enterprise “Unidragmet BSU” (Minsk, Republic of Belarus).

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