Atmospheric acid leaching of nickel-copper matte from Impala Platinum Refineries

The leaching behaviour of nickeli?½copper matte in an acidici?½copper sulphate solution during the repulping stage at Impala Platinum Refineries has been studied. The base metal recovery process consists of a matte repulping stage prior to a series of pressure leach stages. Therefore, the repulping stage is basically an atmospheric leach stage in which the matte containing mostly Ni and Cu is leached in copper-spent electrolyte from the tank house, resulting in dissolution of nickel and precipitation of almost all the copper. To understand the nature of the leaching process during this stage of the operation, the effects of temperature stirring rate and matte particle size on the rate and extent of base metal dissolution and copper rejection from the solution have been investigated. The leaching mechanism of the matte in the investigated system is also proposed.

[1]  L. Lorenzen,et al.  A study of factors influencing the kinetics of copper cementation during atmospheric leaching of converter matte , 2005 .

[2]  L. Lorenzen,et al.  The leaching characteristics of Ni–Cu matte in the acid–oxygen pressure leach process at Impala Platinum , 1999 .

[3]  Z. Hofirek,et al.  Pressure leach capacity expansion using oxygen-enriched air at RBMR (Pty) Ltd , 1995 .

[4]  S. Fugleberg,et al.  Development of the Hartley platinum leaching process , 1995 .

[5]  P. Holmes,et al.  Kinetic aspects of galvanic interactions between minerals during dissolution , 1995 .

[6]  Z. Hofirek,et al.  The chemistry of the nickel-copper matte leach and its application to process control and optimisation , 1992 .

[7]  L. Lorenzen,et al.  Electrochemical interactions between gold and its associated minerals during cyanidation , 1992 .

[8]  Yang Yuhua,et al.  OPERATING PRACTICE AND TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN NICKEL REFINING AND COBALT RECOVERY AT JINCHUAN NON-FERROUS METAL COMPANY , 1990 .

[9]  J. Dutrizac,et al.  A Mineralogical Study of the Phases Formed During the CuSO4–H2SO4–O2 Leaching of Nickel-Copper Matte , 1987 .

[10]  A. Filmer.  The non-oxidation dissolution of nickel mattes in aqueous acidic solutions , 1981 .

[11]  P. Queneau,et al.  Leaching of Iron-Containing Copper-Nickel Matte at Atmospheric Pressure , 1979 .

[12]  V. Annamalai,et al.  KINETIC STUDY OF COPPER CEMENTATION ON PURE ALUMINUM , 1978 .

[13]  R. P. Plasket,et al.  Recovery of nickel and copper from high-grade matte at Impala Platinum by the Sherritt process☆ , 1978 .

[14]  D. J. Mackinnon,et al.  Copper cementation on nickel discs , 1971 .