LLC “POLAR engineering”, Moscow, Russia:

V. M. Paretskiy, Chief Metallurgist
A. M. Ptitsyn, Chief Engineer, e-mail: metago_ptitsyn@mail.ru

LLC “Institute “Gipronickel”, Saint Petersburg, Russia:
L. Sh. Tsemekhman, Chief Researcher
L. B. Tsymbulov, Head of Pyrometallurgical Laboratory

Finely-ingrained refractory sulfide-oxide copper-nickel ores, containing a large amount of platinum group metals, are considered as platinum-palladium ores, instead of copper-nickel ores. This principle became the basis of technology of two-stage smelting of these ores in two-zone Vanyukov furnace, providing the higher extraction of platinum group metals, in comparison with the concentration-metallurgical scheme. On the basis of literature review and results, carried out before the experimental investigations of platinum group metal distribution between the products of pyrometallurgical processing of copper-nickel concentrates, there was carried out the adaptation of thermodynamic model of the software complex FactSage 6.3, connected basically with the accounting of mechanical loss of platinum group metals with dump slags. On its basis, there were defined the coefficients of distribution of platinum group metals between the smelting products of Taimyr oxide-sulfide ores, taking into account the influence of the change of slag and matte mass ratio on distribution of non-ferrous and platinum group metals, because the mass ratio of obtained matte and slag are the main difference of this ore melting type. The forecast calculations of material and energetic balances were carried out. The process flow diagram was designed, and the initial data were made for the development of technological regulations of processing of 1 mln tone of Taimyr oxide and sulfide ore per year. Preliminary technical-economic assessment of created production was carried out.

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