EP0416738B1 - Procédé pour le traitement de matte de nickel-cuivre dans un convertisseur utilisant un gaz de soufflage enrichi en azote - Google Patents

Procédé pour le traitement de matte de nickel-cuivre dans un convertisseur utilisant un gaz de soufflage enrichi en azote Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0416738B1
EP0416738B1 EP90308320A EP90308320A EP0416738B1 EP 0416738 B1 EP0416738 B1 EP 0416738B1 EP 90308320 A EP90308320 A EP 90308320A EP 90308320 A EP90308320 A EP 90308320A EP 0416738 B1 EP0416738 B1 EP 0416738B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
matte
nitrogen
oxygen
operating gas
nickel
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP90308320A
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German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0416738A1 (fr
Inventor
Walter Curlook
Ahmed Vahed
Jose Antonio Blanco
Carlos Alfredo Landolt
Samuel Walton Marcuson
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 Canada Ltd
Original Assignee
Vale Canada Ltd
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 Canada Ltd filed Critical Vale Canada Ltd
Publication of EP0416738A1 publication Critical patent/EP0416738A1/fr
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Publication of EP0416738B1 publication Critical patent/EP0416738B1/fr
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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
    • C22B15/00—Obtaining copper
    • C22B15/0026—Pyrometallurgy
    • C22B15/0028—Smelting or converting
    • C22B15/003—Bath smelting or converting
    • C22B15/0041—Bath smelting or converting in converters
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22C—ALLOYS
    • C22C5/00—Alloys based on noble metals
    • C22C5/02—Alloys based on gold
    • 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
    • C22B23/025—Obtaining nickel or cobalt by dry processes with formation of a matte or by matte refining or converting into nickel or cobalt, e.g. by the Oxford process

Definitions

  • the instant invention relates to the pyrometallurgical production of refined nickel-copper matte from sulfide ores in general and, more particularly, to a converter process using nitrogen, air, oxygen and combinations thereof.
  • the introduction of nitrogen or nitrogen/oxygen containing gas controls the oxidation of the resultant matte and assists in cooling it. Debilitating mush formation is substantially reduced resulting in more efficient converter operations.
  • Nickel-copper Bessemer matte is typically produced by converting molten matte from a primary smelting furnace in Peirce Smith converters which employ blowing of air or air/oxygen mixtures into the bath via tuyeres.
  • the Peirce Smith converter is the most common type of converter used for this application and consists of a horizontally oriented cylinder which has a hooded opening at the top and is rotatable through an arc of about 180 degrees.
  • the plurality of tuyeres are located below the normal working level of the molten matte when in the blowing position and the tuyeres are raised above the bath for pouring and holding.
  • the feed to the converters usually consists of a homogeneous molten matte including Ni3S2, Cu2S, FeS, and small quantities of oxygen, precious metals and other elements. Much of the rock and iron that were in the original metal bearing concentrate were eliminated in the upstream furnacing operation.
  • the objective of the conversion process is to oxidize the FeS in the matte to form iron oxides, liberating sulfur dioxide and leaving matte comprising nickel and copper sulfides with small but variable amounts of cobalt, precious metals and dissolved oxygen. This is accomplished by blowing an oxygen containing gas (air, oxygen enriched air or oxygen) into the matte through the tuyeres.
  • the oxygen combines with the iron and sulfur to form iron oxide and sulfur dioxide.
  • the sulfur dioxide passes off as a gas and is subsequently treated to prevent fugitive emissions.
  • the iron oxide unites with added silica flux to form an iron silicate slag that floats on top of the matte now richer in nickel and copper and much lower in iron.
  • the oxidation process is exothermic and the heat generated is usually sufficient to cause the operation to be self-sustaining.
  • the resulting matte is generally cooled, cast and further treated for recovery of valuable base and precious metals.
  • the copper and nickel in the matte form copper sulfide (Cu2S), nickel sulfide (Ni3S2), and a metallic fraction containing small amounts of dissolved sulfur.
  • the desired composition of the Bessemer matte product is highly dependent upon the requirements of the downstream processing. Important parameters are the final iron and sulfur contents. These levels are generally controlled by the degree of blowing and the temperature of blowing. Conversion of the Ni-Cu matte is normally a batch process and is carried out in the following stages:
  • the function of the cooling step is two-fold; removal of most of the iron by cooling and/or minor blowing of the melt, and cooling of the converter melt to temperatures appropriate for the subsequent treatment of the Bessemer matte. Cooling takes place by natural convection and radiation and typically lasts up to four hours.
  • SU-A-717 147 describes a method of converting nickel matte by injecting an oxidising gas into the molten matte.
  • a shielding envelope of nitrogen is injected around the oxidising gas.
  • molten nickel-copper mattes are finished to Bessemer quality and cooled to the appropriate casting temperature by blowing with nitrogen and/or nitrogen-oxygen (air) mixtures.
  • nitrogen promotes cooling and aids in controlled iron oxidation thus improving control over the final iron level in the Bessemer matte.
  • the instant invention utilizes tonnage nitrogen or nitrogen/oxygen (air) mixtures as an operating gas to both control the oxidation of and improve the cooling of Ni/Cu converter matte. More specifically, it relates to controlling the oxidation rate toward the end of the conversion cycle of Cu/Ni Bessemer matte; minimizing mush formation; regulating the converting temperature and matte composition during the last stages of conversion; and accelerating the cooling of the matte to a temperature consistent with good skimming, casting and the subsequent refining process.
  • Cooling by blowing with nitrogen enriched gas streams shortens cycle times and improves converter productivity.
  • nitrogen also aids in the overall cost effectiveness of the entire nickel-copper refining operation since oftentimes the site must generate and store pure oxygen for various unrelated purposes. Rather than throwing off the nitrogen as waste gas, it is collected and further utilized in the instant process.
  • the addition of nitrogen to the air or oxygen blast can also be used as a control over the sulfur levels in Bessemer matte.
  • the final sulfur content in Bessemer matte is primarily controlled by blowing temperature - raising the temperature decreases the sulfur level and lowering the blowing temperature tends to increase final sulfur. Dilution of the blast with nitrogen tends to purge the bath of sulfur giving added control over the composition of the final Bessemer matte.
  • Nitrogen addition to the air or oxygen blast is useful for a number of different converter processes.
  • the nitrogen/air or nitrogen/oxygen mixture may be used to finish the matte and control the iron and sulfur contents.
  • the nitrogen may be used primarily for cooling the matte -- iron and sulfur control in this instance may not be a major factor.
  • the quantity and duration of the nitrogen addition is a function of the type, temperature and quantity of the matte.
  • the matte generally contains about 3% iron or less.
  • Nitrogen should preferably be mixed with air in a 0.5-2:1 volume ratio and the mixture delivered to the converter at a rate of 2.5 - 7.5 cubic meters/minute per metric tonne of matte. In the event that nitrogen is added to oxygen, the volume ratio should be 6-14:1 and delivery rate is 2.5 - 7.5 cubic meters/minute per metric tonne of matte. Clearly, these parameters may be varied to adjust the conditions at hand.
  • the finished matte generally contains 1-3% iron or less at a temperature of about 1100°C - 1250°C.
  • Nitrogen should preferably be mixed with air or oxygen in 3 - 20:1 or 20-100:1 volume ratios respectively.
  • the delivery rates should be 2.5-7.5 cubic meters/minute per metric tonne of matte.
  • the volumes of gas introduced into the converter should be chosen to reduce the temperature by about 50°C- 200°C. Again, the numbers may be varied depending on the circumstances.
  • nitrogen only may be used to cool the matte.
  • 2-4 cubic meters/minute per metric tonne of matte may be added to reduce the temperature of the matte.
  • the blast may contain 5-15% oxygen (or 23-70% air) for oxidizing purposes and 1-5% oxygen (or 5-20% air) for cooling purposes.
  • Example A The Use of N2-Air For The Dry-Up Blow
  • the converter was turned into the blowing position and a mixture of 311.5 m3 min ⁇ 1 (11,000 scfm) of air and 215.2 m3 min ⁇ 1 (7600 scfm) of nitrogen was blown through 42 tuyeres for 21 minutes.
  • An oxygen analyzer installed in the line indicated that the blast contained 11.6% O2 by volume.
  • the matte assayed 1.3% Fe and was at 1150°C.
  • About 5261 kg (5.8 tons) of mush remained in the converter in the form of an 203 mm (8 inch) layer of hard finish.
  • the matte was transferred for further processing and the mush was sampled. Assays showed the mush to be approximately 43% matte, 26% flux and 31% base metal oxides.
  • Example B The Use of N2 Air To Cool A Charge Of Bessemer Matte
  • Example A Using the same equipment as in Example A, approximately 120 tonnes of finishing matte assaying 0.89% Fe and at 1160°C were blown with a nitrogen-air mixture to cool it to the casting temperature.
  • the blast mixture consisted of about 31.1 m3 min ⁇ 1 (1100 scfm) of air and 229.3 m3 min ⁇ 1 (8100 scfm) of N2 and was blown for 22 minutes through 25 tuyeres.
  • An oxygen analyzer indicated that the blast contained 3.1% O2 by volume.
  • the matte Assayed 0.29% Fe and had been cooled to 1000°C.
  • the matte was cast. Only a small amount of mush remained in the converter. Assays showed this mush to be 59% Bessemer matte, 22% flux and 19% base metal oxides.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Manufacture And Refinement Of Metals (AREA)

Claims (6)

  1. Procédé de traitement d'une matte fondue à base de nickel et de cuivre dérivée de minerais à base de sulfure, lequel procédé comprend :
    a) l'introduction de la matte a base de nickel et de cuivre en fusion, dans un récipient pyrométallurgique,
    b) l'introduction d'un gaz de traitement dans le récipient afin de convertir la matte en une matte à base de cuivre et de nickel affinée, le gaz de traitement, au moins dans les phases initiales de l'opération de conversion, contenant de l'azote et de l'oxygène,
    c) le retrait de la matte affinée du récipient, caractérisé en ce que :
    dans les phases ultérieures de l'opération de conversion b), le gaz de traitement est soit de l'azote pur, ou le gaz de traitement a été volontairement enrichi (par comparaison au gaz de traitement employé dans les phases initiales) avec de l'azote, et la teneur en azote du gaz de traitement dans ces dernières phases est suffisante pour refroidir la matte.
  2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le gaz de traitement est formé en mélangeant de l'azote et un gaz contenant de l'oxygène.
  3. Procédé selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel, dans lesdites phases initiales, on emploie un gaz de traitement ayant un rapport azote-oxygène de 6-14:1, et il est introduit dans le récipient à raison de 2,5 à 7,5 m³/mn par tonne métrique de matte.
  4. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, dans lequel la teneur en oxygène du gaz de traitement, dans lesdites phases initiales, est de 5 à 15 %.
  5. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, dans lequel le gaz de traitement, dans les dernières phases de l'opération de conversion, a un rapport azote-oxygène de 20-100:1, et il est introduit à raison de 2,5 à 7,5 m³/mn par tonne métrique de matte.
  6. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, dans lequel la teneur en oxygène du gaz de traitement, dans les dernières phases, est de 1 à 5%.
EP90308320A 1989-07-31 1990-07-30 Procédé pour le traitement de matte de nickel-cuivre dans un convertisseur utilisant un gaz de soufflage enrichi en azote Expired - Lifetime EP0416738B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA607085 1989-07-31
CA000607085A CA1338426C (fr) 1989-07-31 1989-07-31 Jets d'azote/air dans des convertisseurs ni-cu

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0416738A1 EP0416738A1 (fr) 1991-03-13
EP0416738B1 true EP0416738B1 (fr) 1995-09-27

Family

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EP90308320A Expired - Lifetime EP0416738B1 (fr) 1989-07-31 1990-07-30 Procédé pour le traitement de matte de nickel-cuivre dans un convertisseur utilisant un gaz de soufflage enrichi en azote

Country Status (9)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0416738B1 (fr)
JP (1) JPH0397814A (fr)
KR (1) KR940000492B1 (fr)
AU (1) AU632603B2 (fr)
BR (1) BR9003670A (fr)
CA (1) CA1338426C (fr)
FI (1) FI903792A0 (fr)
PE (1) PE15791A1 (fr)
ZA (1) ZA905967B (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8030082B2 (en) 2006-01-13 2011-10-04 Honeywell International Inc. Liquid-particle analysis of metal materials

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19913335A1 (de) * 1999-03-24 2000-09-28 Linde Tech Gase Gmbh Verfahren zum Beschichten der Ausmauerung eines Konverters und Beschichtung
KR101448147B1 (ko) * 2012-09-10 2014-10-08 엘에스니꼬동제련 주식회사 동제련 슬래그에서의 유가금속 회수방법
CN113999985B (zh) * 2022-01-04 2022-04-01 矿冶科技集团有限公司 一种全热态铜锍吹炼热平衡控制方法

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3671197A (en) * 1970-02-05 1972-06-20 Lummus Co Treatment of pyrites
BE791287A (fr) * 1971-11-15 1973-05-14 Int Nickel Canada Procede de pyro-affinage de cuivre
JPS5312890B2 (fr) * 1973-01-12 1978-05-06
FR2388888B1 (fr) * 1977-04-25 1980-05-16 Creusot Loire
ES474259A1 (es) * 1977-10-19 1979-04-16 Inco Ltd Un procedimiento para purificar una mata cuprifera.
SU717147A1 (ru) * 1978-05-19 1980-02-25 Государственный Проектный И Научно- Исследовательский Институт "Гипроникель" Способ переработки металлизированных никельсодержащих штейнов
JPS55134138A (en) * 1979-04-03 1980-10-18 Nippon Mining Co Ltd Converter operating method in copper smelting
CA1190751A (fr) * 1982-06-18 1985-07-23 J. Barry W. Bailey Methode et installation de conversion continue de mattes de cuivre et de non ferreux

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8030082B2 (en) 2006-01-13 2011-10-04 Honeywell International Inc. Liquid-particle analysis of metal materials

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU5999090A (en) 1991-01-31
KR910003131A (ko) 1991-02-27
BR9003670A (pt) 1991-08-27
KR940000492B1 (ko) 1994-01-21
CA1338426C (fr) 1996-07-02
EP0416738A1 (fr) 1991-03-13
FI903792A0 (fi) 1990-07-30
PE15791A1 (es) 1991-05-22
ZA905967B (en) 1991-05-29
AU632603B2 (en) 1993-01-07
JPH0397814A (ja) 1991-04-23

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