WO2016205906A1 - Procédé de valorisation thermique de minerais limonite ou sapronite contenant du métal par séparation magnétique et utilisation des concentrés magnétiques comme semences - Google Patents

Procédé de valorisation thermique de minerais limonite ou sapronite contenant du métal par séparation magnétique et utilisation des concentrés magnétiques comme semences Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2016205906A1
WO2016205906A1 PCT/BR2015/000101 BR2015000101W WO2016205906A1 WO 2016205906 A1 WO2016205906 A1 WO 2016205906A1 BR 2015000101 W BR2015000101 W BR 2015000101W WO 2016205906 A1 WO2016205906 A1 WO 2016205906A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
agent
metallic
ore
agglomerates
concentrate
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/BR2015/000101
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Tanai Lerac Marin Alvarado
Graeme Robertson Goodall
Quanmin Yang
Kenneth Scholey
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Vale SA
Original Assignee
Vale SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Vale SA filed Critical Vale SA
Publication of WO2016205906A1 publication Critical patent/WO2016205906A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
    • C22B9/00—General processes of refining or remelting of metals; Apparatus for electroslag or arc remelting of metals
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
    • C22B1/00—Preliminary treatment of ores or scrap
    • C22B1/14—Agglomerating; Briquetting; Binding; Granulating
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
    • C21B—MANUFACTURE OF IRON OR STEEL
    • C21B15/00—Other processes for the manufacture of iron from iron compounds
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
    • C22B1/00—Preliminary treatment of ores or scrap
    • C22B1/14—Agglomerating; Briquetting; Binding; Granulating
    • C22B1/16—Sintering; Agglomerating
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
    • C22B1/00—Preliminary treatment of ores or scrap
    • C22B1/26—Cooling of roasted, sintered, or agglomerated ores
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
    • C22B23/00—Obtaining nickel or cobalt
    • C22B23/005—Preliminary treatment of ores, e.g. by roasting or by the Krupp-Renn process
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
    • C22B23/00—Obtaining nickel or cobalt
    • C22B23/02—Obtaining nickel or cobalt by dry processes
    • C22B23/023—Obtaining nickel or cobalt by dry processes with formation of ferro-nickel or ferro-cobalt
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22C—ALLOYS
    • C22C38/00—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys
    • C22C38/08—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing nickel

Definitions

  • the present invention refers to a process to thermally upgrade metal- containing ores, particularly nickel-containing lateritic ores, more particularly of limonitic type or a blend of limonitic/saprolitic ores with low or high iron to silica ratio.
  • the present invention also refers to the magnetic concentrate produced by the process and to the use of the magnetic concentrate.
  • the current processing nickel-containing lateritic ores is carried out by pyrometallurgy or hydrometallurgy means. In both cases, the entire ore needs to be processed since laterite ores are not amenable to concentration by physical means.
  • Pyrometallurgy mainly treats saprolite (low iron to nickel ratio) and Hydrometallurgy mainly treats limonite (high iron to nickel ratio).
  • Limonite is an iron ore consisting of a mixture of hydrated iron(lll) oxide- hydroxides in varying composition.
  • the generic formula is frequently written as FeO(OH)-nH 2 0, although this is not entirely accurate as the ratio of oxide to hydroxide can vary quite widely.
  • Limonite is one of the two principal iron ores, the other being hematite.
  • Saprolite is a chemically weathered rock. Saprolites form in the lower zones of soil profiles and represent deep weathering of the bedrock surface. In most outcrops its color comes from ferric compounds.
  • Pyrometallurgy consists of the thermal treatment of minerals and metallurgical ores and concentrates to bring physical and chemical transformations in the materials to enable recovery of valuable metals. The pyrometallurgical processes are generally grouped into one or more of the following categories: drying/ calcining/ roasting/ smelting/ converting/ refining.
  • Hydrometallurgy is known as a method for obtaining metals from their ores. It is a technique within the field of extractive metallurgy involving the use of aqueous chemistry for the recovery of metals from ores, concentrates, and recycled or residual materials. The complement to hydrometallurgy is pyrometallurgy. Hydrometallurgy is typically divided into three general areas: leaching; solution concentration and purification; and metal recovery.
  • the patent US 5,178,666 teaches a thermal upgrading process whereby nickel-containing limonite or limonite/saprolite blends are pelletized with requisite amounts of solid carbon reductant and a sulfur-bearing concentrating agent.
  • This patent does not teach about the use of metallic seeding particles to enhance the recovery and grade of the magnetic concentrate and it is strongly dependent on maintaining a carefully controlled reducing atmosphere.
  • the new process of the present invention allows for thermal upgrading and pyrometallurgical treatment of metal-containing ores, particularly nickel- containing lateritic ores, more particularly of the limonitic type or a blend of limonitic/saprolitic ores with low or high iron to silica ratio, to produce a calcine containing concentrated metal particles amenable to magnetic separation.
  • the present invention differs from known processes in two main aspects: The first is related to the use of metallic or metal concentrate seeds to enhance and promote metallic particle concentration and growth. The second is that this new process does not require strict atmosphere control during the thermal treatment to achieve successful metallic concentration.
  • the present invention refers to a process to thermally upgrade metal- containing ores comprising the following steps:
  • Magnetic concentration of metallic particles by known techniques of magnetic separation including but not limited to magnetic separation by wet or dry means, dewatering and drying.
  • the ores useful in the process of the present invention includes nickel laterites of both limonite and saprolite nature.
  • the metals within the scope of invention include nickel and iron.
  • the nickel containing lateritic ores are, preferably, of the limonitic type or a blend of limonitic/saprolitic ores with low or high iron to silica ratio.
  • the process of the present invention is applicable to any nickel-containing limonite, saprolite or limonite/saprolite blend of lateritic type of ore that could also contain small amount of other metals such as, but not limited to cobalt or chrome in their elemental or oxide forms.
  • the present invention is applicable to the co-processing of lateritic ores in conjunction with nickel-bearing sulphides that could contain any kind of impurities that can be removed by any known method that are technical or economical.
  • the ore might be prepared to adequate size (below 212 ⁇ ) and moisture (10 to 20% by mass) by known means of mineral processing. This pretreatment might involve, but might not be limited to: crushing, screening, desliming, flotations as part of silica rejection process in order to produce ore blend with Fe/Si0 2 ratios above 2.0 g/g.
  • the suitable amounts of the reducing agent are added to provide necessary reducing conditions during thermal treatment. The suitable amounts of the reducing agent create a locally reducing atmosphere within the agglomerates, making this invention less dependent on careful atmosphere control during calcination.
  • the reducing agent used in the present invention could be but not limited to solid carbon or liquid hydrocarbon type.
  • the sulphur bearing agent can be added in amounts from 1 and up to 5 wt% of equivalent contained S relative to the weight of ore.
  • the sulphur bearing agent could be but not limited to elemental sulphur, nickel-bearing sulphide concentrate, Iron-bearing concentrate, or a blend of sulphides minerals.
  • the sulphur bearing agent is required to promote growth of valuable metal particle during thermal treatment.
  • the metallic-bearing seeding agent can be added in amounts as little as 0.1 wt% and as high as 2 wt% relative to the weight of ore in the form of, but not limited to ferronickel particle, ferronickel concentrate, metallic nickel, nickel powder and metallic iron powder.
  • the low temperature binder agent can be added in amounts from 0 and up to 5 wt.% relative to the mass of ore, to aid in the agglomeration process of the total blend and to provide sufficient strength during handling and processing.
  • the optional low temperature binder agent could be but not limited to organic binder and silicate binder.
  • step (2) of agglomeration and dry might be performed to provide sufficient strength for material handling.
  • Agglomeration is necessary to create localized reducing conditions. Drying is only necessary if moisture is much higher than 25% by mass. The moisture content of the agglomerates must be in the range of 15 to 25% by mass.
  • the agglomerates that will be calcining at step (3) might be dried or wet.
  • the dried or wet agglomerates are calcined for at least one hour to a maximum of three hours in contact with reducing atmosphere (equivalent to Logio(p0 2 ) of -12 to -15) to temperature high enough to produce a liquid metallic phase that growth and concentrate into metallic particles within the agglomerate but not high enough to produce sticking of the agglomerate.
  • reducing atmosphere equivalent to Logio(p0 2 ) of -12 to -15
  • Typical temperatures to achieve this purpose are in the range of 950-1150°C. Lower temperatures will not result in the necessary degree of reduction and higher temperatures will result in stickiness and build up problems.
  • the step of cooling (step 4) is to prevent re-oxidation of metallic particles or partially reduced valuable metals. Cooling rate is adequate to prevent disproportionation of ferrous oxide to form enough amounts of magnetite to be detrimental for the magnetic separation of valuable metal particles.
  • step 4 the cooled agglomerate, which is the calcine produced in step 4, is submitted to mineral processing as crushing and grinding (step 5) to a size amenable for magnetic separation of the metallic particles, typically with a representative pao equal or lesser than 25 ⁇ .
  • step 5 The product of step 5 is then prepared to produce a magnetic concentrate of valuable metals by known techniques of magnetic separation, including but not limited to magnetic separation by wet or dry means, dewatering and drying.
  • the product of the step (6) is the magnetic concentrate from which a small portion is recycled as seed material mention in step 1.
  • the magnetic concentrate which typically consists of 5 to 15 wt% Ni and with varying Fe/Ni ratios in the range of 1/1 and up to 10/1 by mass with metallic particles ranging in size above 20 ⁇ , produced by the process of the present invention can be used to further produce a ferronickel or highly metalized nickel containing matte for the production of stainless steel.
  • the required degree of reduction of both nickel and iron in the agglomerates is controlled by creating a locally reducing atmosphere within the agglomerates by means of suitable amounts and type of reducing agent, making the process less dependent on careful atmosphere control during calcinations and thermal processing.
  • Pellet batches of approximately 1.2kg where prepared and split into representative afiquots to be tested at various conditions of temperature profile, reaction time and atmosphere. Calcined pellets were prepared for magnetic separation by grinding the calcine down to pso of 25 ⁇ and magnetically concentrated by applying 500, 600 and 800 Gauss successively into a stirring flotation cell to produce three magnetic concentrates and a tail. Normally the three magnetic concentrates were analyzed separately but the composite result is being reported here.
  • Limonite A 1.15%Ni, 38.4%Fe, 15.9%Si0 2 , 2.7%MgO, 5.4%AI 2 0 3 , 8.1%Cr 2 0 3
  • Limonite B 1.59%Ni, 48.5%Fe, 8.1%Si0 2 , 1.6%MgO, 4.31%AI 2 0 3 , 1.8%Cr 2 0 3
  • ferronickel seeds The effect of using ferronickel seeds is demonstrated in Table 1.
  • the pellets were preheated at 600°C for lh and then calcine at 1000°C for lh under reducing atmosphere (CO/C0 2 volume ratio controlled at 2/1).
  • the ferronickel concentrate correspond to magnetic concentrate obtained from ferronickel slag refining process.
  • S source in this case is "Sulphide A” and reductant is "Coal A” added in amounts of 69 and 60g, respectively

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Manufacture And Refinement Of Metals (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un procédé de valorisation thermique de minerais contenant du métal comprenant les étapes consistant à : (1) mélanger : (i) du minerai, (ii) de 4 à 15 % en poids d'agent réducteur, par rapport au minerai, (iii) un agent contenant du soufre, (iv) un agent d'ensemencement contenant du métal et, éventuellement, (v) un agent liant à basse température afin de produire un mélange ; (2) agglomérer et sécher, si nécessaire, le mélange obtenu à l'étape (1) afin de produire des agglomérats ; (3) calciner les agglomérats obtenus à l'étape (2) sous une atmosphère réductrice avec une pression partielle d'oxygène allant de Log10(pO2)= - 12 à Log10(p02) = -15 et sous une température comprise entre 950 et 1150 °C afin de produire une phase métallique liquide qui cristallise et se concentre en particules métalliques à l'intérieur des agglomérats ; (4) refroidir les agglomérats après l'étape 3 à la température ambiante, sous une atmosphère réductrice ou inerte ; (5) concasser et broyer le calcinat obtenu à l'étape 4 jusqu'à une taille appropriée pour la séparation magnétique de particules métalliques, ce qui correspond typiquement à un p80 inférieur ou égal à 25 µm ; et (6) concentration magnétique de particules métalliques par des techniques connues de séparation magnétique comprenant, sans s'y limiter, la séparation magnétique par voie humide ou par voie sèche, la déshydratation et le séchage. L'invention concerne également le concentré magnétique produit par le procédé, ainsi que l'utilisation de ce concentré magnétique pour produire une matte contenant du ferronickel ou un nickel fortement métallisé destinée à la production d'acier inoxydable.
PCT/BR2015/000101 2015-06-26 2015-07-01 Procédé de valorisation thermique de minerais limonite ou sapronite contenant du métal par séparation magnétique et utilisation des concentrés magnétiques comme semences Ceased WO2016205906A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US14/751,808 US20160376681A1 (en) 2015-06-26 2015-06-26 Process to thermally upgrade metal-containing limonite or saprolite ores via magnetic separation and the use of the magnetic concentrate as seeds
US14/751,808 2015-06-26

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2016205906A1 true WO2016205906A1 (fr) 2016-12-29

Family

ID=53835191

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/BR2015/000101 Ceased WO2016205906A1 (fr) 2015-06-26 2015-07-01 Procédé de valorisation thermique de minerais limonite ou sapronite contenant du métal par séparation magnétique et utilisation des concentrés magnétiques comme semences

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US20160376681A1 (fr)
TW (1) TW201700735A (fr)
WO (1) WO2016205906A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN113174459A (zh) * 2021-04-13 2021-07-27 中国科学院过程工程研究所 一种用铁精矿制备二次还原铁粉的方法
JP2024070872A (ja) * 2022-11-14 2024-05-24 Ｊｆｅスチール株式会社 鉄鉱石の還元方法

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3388870A (en) * 1965-04-07 1968-06-18 Int Nickel Co Upgrading of lateritic ores
US4049444A (en) * 1973-11-05 1977-09-20 The International Nickel Company, Inc. Process for treatment of lateritic ores
US4490174A (en) * 1982-12-22 1984-12-25 Crama Williem J Process for the preparation of a ferronickel concentrate
US5178666A (en) 1991-12-03 1993-01-12 Inco Limited Low temperature thermal upgrading of lateritic ores

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20020035188A1 (en) * 2000-07-21 2002-03-21 Steeghs Henricus Renier Gerardus Agglomerating particulate materials
BR112014029214B1 (pt) * 2012-05-23 2020-02-18 Vale S.A. Processo para aperfeiçoamento da redutibilidade de pelotas de minério de ferro
KR101367834B1 (ko) * 2013-03-22 2014-02-28 주식회사 제철세라믹 무기성 바인더를 이용한 니켈 광석 환원 더스트용 제립 바인더의 제조 방법 및 상기 방법으로 제조된 바인더
CN103551247B (zh) * 2013-10-30 2015-12-30 中冶北方（大连）工程技术有限公司 一种褐铁矿还原焙烧提铁除杂选矿工艺

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3388870A (en) * 1965-04-07 1968-06-18 Int Nickel Co Upgrading of lateritic ores
US4049444A (en) * 1973-11-05 1977-09-20 The International Nickel Company, Inc. Process for treatment of lateritic ores
US4490174A (en) * 1982-12-22 1984-12-25 Crama Williem J Process for the preparation of a ferronickel concentrate
US5178666A (en) 1991-12-03 1993-01-12 Inco Limited Low temperature thermal upgrading of lateritic ores

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
FILIPE RODRIGUES: "INVESTIGATION INTO THE THERMAL UPGRADING OF NICKELIFEROUS LATERITE ORE", CANADIAN THESES, 2 January 2014 (2014-01-02), XP055244873, Retrieved from the Internet <URL:http://qspace.library.queensu.ca/dspace/bitstream/1974/8538/3/Rodrigues_Filipe_M_201312_MASc.pdf> [retrieved on 20160126] *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
TW201700735A (zh) 2017-01-01
US20160376681A1 (en) 2016-12-29

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
Zhu et al. Utilization of limonitic nickel laterite to produce ferronickel concentrate by the selective reduction-magnetic separation process
CN115386738B (zh) 还原硫化冶炼红土镍矿生产高冰镍的方法
Faris et al. The direct leaching of nickel sulfide flotation concentrates–a historic and state-of-the-art review part I: Piloted processes and commercial operations
Peng Coal-based reduction mechanism of low-grade laterite ore
AU2007288109B2 (en) Production of metallic nickel with low iron content
CA2907519C (fr) Procede de fusion a l&#39;etat humide de minerai d&#39;oxyde de nickel
US20080011126A1 (en) Production of Ferronickel
JP2008533294A (ja) ニッケル及びコバルトを含有する鉱石の連続浸出または同時浸出
US3929468A (en) Process for recovery of non-ferrous metals from oxide ores and concentrates
AU2015247229A1 (en) Wet-mode nickel oxide ore smelting method
Shofi et al. Effect of reduction temperature and sodium-based additives on nickel upgrading process of laterites ores
ZHANG Pretreatment study on chloridizing segregation and magnetic separation of low-grade nickel laterites
Chen et al. Extraction of valuable metals from low-grade nickeliferous laterite ore by reduction roasting-ammonia leaching method
Faris et al. The Direct Leaching of Nickel Sulfide Flotation Concentrates–A Historic and State-of-the-Art Review Part III: Laboratory Investigations into Atmospheric Leach Processes
Deniz Turan et al. Leaching of a copper flotation concentrate with ammonium persulfate in an autoclave system
Nurjaman et al. The role of sodium-based additives on reduction process of nickel lateritic ore
WO2016205906A1 (fr) Procédé de valorisation thermique de minerais limonite ou sapronite contenant du métal par séparation magnétique et utilisation des concentrés magnétiques comme semences
Bahfie et al. Development of laterite ore processing and its applications
Elliott A study on the role of sulphur in the thermal upgrading of nickeliferous laterite ores
Chen et al. A novel approach for recovery of nickel and iron from nickel laterite ore
El-Hussiny et al. Pelletization and Reduction of Egyptian Low Grade Manganese Ore Pellets via Hydrogen at 750-950ºC
Biao et al. Phase transformation in the metallic reduction process of low-grade laterite nickel ores for ferronickel alloy production
Rodrigues Investigation into the thermal upgrading of nickeliferous laterite ore
Agacayak et al. Leaching of a Turkish lateritic nickel ore in nitric acid solution
Li et al. Study on Selective reduction and magnetic separation of low grade nickel laterite ore to produce high nickel concentrate

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 15749712

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 15749712

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1