Gipronikel Institute, Saint Petersburg, Russia:

Yu. A. Savinova, Research Fellow at the Pyrometallurgy Laboratory
L. Sh. Tsemekhman, Adviser to General Director, e-mail: lev.tsem1@gmail.com
V. A. Popov, Lead Researcher at the Pyrometallurgy Laboratory

As part of the work to develop efficient processing regimes for copper, coppernickel and polymetallic sulfide concentrates, a series of experiments was carried out in which the above materials were roasted in fluid-bed furnaces. The roasting experiments were conducted in a laboratory in a wide range of parameters: temperature — from 500 to 950 ^oC; blast medium — from air to 35 % oxygen-air mixture; roasting time — 30 min to 2 h. The resultant roasted product was analysed by local methods of scanning electron microscopy and X-ray spectral microanalysis. It was established that, irrespective of the roasting parameters, all products obtained during the experiments have similar groups of components. Key components include: relict sulfides, oxides, sulfates and spinels (ferrites). At the same time, a clear correlation was identified between the composition of the roasted products and the roasting process parameters. Within the studied range of roasting conditions, a temperature rise, as well as a higher concentration of oxygen in the blast air, is associated with a greater number of oxidized components (i. e. oxides and ferrites) in the products and a lower volume concentration of sulfides and sulfites. The authors conducted a thermodynamic analysis of sulfide polymetallic concentrate subjected to fluid-bed roasting. The same component groups were found in the roasted product as the ones that were identified in real products through SEM and XRS. The obtained data provide a basis for analyzing if there is an equilibrium between oxidizing processes in the fluid-bed roasting of sulfide concentrates.

1. Naboychenko S. S., Ageev N. G., Doroshkevich A. P. Processes and equipment in non-ferrous metallurgy. Ekaterinburg : UGTU, 1997. 648 p.
2. Vanyukov A. V., Utkin N. I. Comprehensive processing of copper and nickel ores. Chelyabinsk : Metallurgiya, 1988. 432 p.
3. Tyushnyakov S. N., Selivanov E. N., Chumarev V. M. Estimation of rate of zinc distillation from slag in direct-current furnace. Non-ferrous Metals. 2014. No. 1. pp. 9–12.
4. Snurnikov A. P. Hydrometallurgy of zinc. Moscow : Metallurgiya, 1981. 384 p.
5. Klushin D. N., Serebrennikova E. Ya., Besser A. D. et al. Fluidized bed in non-ferrous metallurgy. Moscow : Metallurgiya, 1978. 280 p.
6. So Tu. The physics and chemistry of the combined processing of Udokan copper sulfide concentrate: Extended abstract of PhD dissertation. Moscow, 2011. 26 p.
7. Savinova Yu. A., Portov A. B., Popov V. A. Understanding the process of fluid-bed roasting of polymetallic sulfide concentrate. Metally. 2014. No. 3. pp. 3–10.
8. Savinova Yu. A., Tsemekhman L. Sh., Portov A. B. Influence of roasting parameters of sulfide polymetallic concentrate on the quality of obtained cinder. Tsvetnye Metally. 2013. No. 7. pp. 40–45.
9. Savinova Yu. A., Portov A. B., Tsemekhman L. Sh. Research of the process of roasting of mixed copper concentrate (Udokan deposit) in fliudized bed furnaces. Tsvetnye Metally. 2014. No. 9. pp. 37–42.
10. Portov A. B., Ozerov S. S., Savinova Yu. A., Tsemekhman L. Sh. Processing of technology of ore copper-nickel concentrate roasting at aggregativelaboratory setting of boiling layer. Tsvetnye Metally. 2014. No. 9. pp. 44–51.
11. Savinova Yu. A., Tsemekhman L. Sh., Portov A. B. Investigation of influence of roasting parameters of sulfide copper-nickel concentrate on material composition of obtained cinder. Tsvetnye Metally. 2014. No. 6. pp. 23–27.
12. Ertseva L. N. The experience of scanning electron microscopy and electron probe microanalysis use for the purpose of non-ferrous materials study. Non-ferrous Metals. 2011. No. 2. pp. 53–58.
13. Krishtal M. M., Yasnikov I. S., Polunin V. I., Filatov A. M., Ulianinkov A. G. Practical application of scanning electron microscopy and X-ray spectral microanalysis: Examples. Moscow : Tekhnosfera, 2009. 208 p.
14. Tsemekhman L. Sh., Fomichev V. B., Ertseva L. N., Kaytmazov N. G., Kozyrev S. M., Maksimov V. I., Shneerson Ya. M., Dyachenko V. T. Atlas of raw minerals, industrial products and commodities of Nornickel’s Zapolyarie Branch. Moscow : “Ore and Metals” Publishing House, 2010. 336 p.
15. Savinova Yu. A., Popov V. A., Tsemekhman L. Sh., Chumakov Yu. A. Research of dust material composition of the converter redivision of Pechenganickel Mining and Metallurgical Combine (Kola MMC). Tsvetnye Metally. 2012. No. 11. pp. 48–52.
16. Ertseva L. N., Tsemekhman L. Sh., Tsymbulov L. B. et al. On the structure of solid nickel matte. Tsvetnye Metally. 2008. No. 3. pp. 21–23.
17. Crundwell F., Moats M. S. et al. Smelting of nickel sulfide concentrates by roasting and electric furnace smelting. Extractive metallurgy of nickel, cobalt and platinum-group metals. 2011. pp. 199–207.
18. Metserinta L., Taskinen P., Nyberg J., Ohvo E. Fluid-bed roasting of contaminated zinc concentrate. Tsvetnye Metally. 2005. No. 5. pp. 92–99.
19. Yu D., Torstein A., Utigard T. et al. Fluidized Bed Selective Oxidation-Sulfation Roasting of Nickel Sulfide Concentrate. Part I: Oxidation Roasting. Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B. 2014. Vol. 45. pp. 653–661.
20. Yu D., Torstein A., Utigard T. et al. Fluidized Bed Selective Oxidation-Sulfation Roasting of Nickel Sulfide Concentrate. Part II. Sulfation Roasting. Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B. 2014. Vol. 45. pp. 662–674.
21. Metal production above the Arctic circle. Ed. by N. G. Kaytmazov. Norilsk : Antey limited, 2007. 178 p.