I. V. Tananaev Institute of Chemistry and Technology of Rare Elements and Mineral Raw Materials, Kola Scientific Centre, Russian Academy of Sciences)

N. S. Areshina, Senior Researcher, e-mail: areshina@chemy.kolasc.net.ru

A. G. Kasikov, Head of Hydrometallurgy Department

Scientific and Research Department of Kola Analytical Centre, Kola MMC

I. E. Malts, Head of Department

T. R. Zenkevich, Engineer of Hydrometallurgical Depart ment

Nowadays, in connection with the world's tendency of copper production without electrolysis slimes formation, research of selenium extraction from scrubbing gas products of the coppernickel process follows in the same line. In this work we have examined model and real solutions of scrubbing acid, gas-flue condensate pulp, and selenium cakes from the sulphuric-acid shops of Severonikel and Pechenganikel combines (Kola MMC JSC) to obtain more selenium concentrates and marketable products from them. It has been established that preliminary extraction of selenium from solutions by means of cementation on copper-containing reagents at a H₂SO₄ concentration of 100–700 g/l makes it possible to diminish its content in solution to 1.0–2.4 mg/l. The resulting selenium concentrate contains 48% selenium, mostly as copper selenide (I). Industrial testing has proved that deep extraction of selenium from solutions and gas-scrubbing pulp can be achieved by correcting the H₂SO₄ concentrations, after which the solutions can be used in the principal technology or for sulphuric acid recovery. Hydrochemical concentrating of selenium cakes from sulphuricacid shops involving, depending on the cakes’ chemical composition, a treatment with either water or salt, was found to increase the selenium content in primary concentrates 1.5–2.0 fold. As the result of leaching from concentrates by sodium sulphite, over 99.9 of selenium was transferred to solution, whereupon pure selenium of the “technical” grade was extracted.

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