A Study of the Feasibility of Using Ammonium Sulfate in Copper—Nickel Ore Processing

Abstract

The possibility of applying a combined concentration and metallurgical method for processing low-grade and refractory copper–nickel ores was considered. The resulting rougher and scavenger flotation concentrate contained 2.07% nickel and 0.881% copper at a recovery of 85.44% and 89.91%, respectively. The concentrate was then roasted with ammonium sulfate, followed by aqueous leaching of clinker to dissolve nickel and copper. The roasting temperature, the ratio of concentrate to (NH4)2SO4 in the mixture, and the temperature were varied. Based on the study findings, the following process conditions were found to be optimal: roasting temperature 400 °C, rougher concentrate to ammonium sulfate ratio 1:7, and grinding size −40 μm. A roasting temperature of 400 °C is significantly lower than the temperature applied in conventional pyrometallurgical processes. The possibility of collecting off-gases allows the reagent to be regenerated and makes the process even more cost-effective. End-to-end recovery into pregnant solution was 81.42% for nickel and 82.81% for copper. The resulting solutions can be processed by known hydrometallurgical methods.

Keywords

• copper–nickel ore
• flotation
• rougher concentrate
• ammonium sulfate
• roasting
• aqueous leaching