ZA200201533B - Recovery of nickel and copper from sulphide concentrates by bioleaching. - Google Patents
Recovery of nickel and copper from sulphide concentrates by bioleaching. Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- ZA200201533B ZA200201533B ZA200201533A ZA200201533A ZA200201533B ZA 200201533 B ZA200201533 B ZA 200201533B ZA 200201533 A ZA200201533 A ZA 200201533A ZA 200201533 A ZA200201533 A ZA 200201533A ZA 200201533 B ZA200201533 B ZA 200201533B
- Authority
- ZA
- South Africa
- Prior art keywords
- copper
- nickel
- concentrate
- process according
- leach solution
- Prior art date
Links
- PXHVJJICTQNCMI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Nickel Chemical compound [Ni] PXHVJJICTQNCMI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 title claims description 64
- RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copper Chemical compound [Cu] RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 title claims description 38
- 229910052802 copper Inorganic materials 0.000 title claims description 38
- 239000010949 copper Substances 0.000 title claims description 38
- 239000012141 concentrate Substances 0.000 title claims description 36
- 229910052759 nickel Inorganic materials 0.000 title claims description 32
- 238000011084 recovery Methods 0.000 title claims description 15
- UCKMPCXJQFINFW-UHFFFAOYSA-N Sulphide Chemical compound [S-2] UCKMPCXJQFINFW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 title description 2
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 28
- 230000003647 oxidation Effects 0.000 claims description 26
- 238000007254 oxidation reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 26
- 238000000638 solvent extraction Methods 0.000 claims description 14
- QAOWNCQODCNURD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Sulfuric acid Chemical compound OS(O)(=O)=O QAOWNCQODCNURD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 10
- ARUVKPQLZAKDPS-UHFFFAOYSA-L copper(II) sulfate Chemical compound [Cu+2].[O-][S+2]([O-])([O-])[O-] ARUVKPQLZAKDPS-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 claims description 10
- 235000011149 sulphuric acid Nutrition 0.000 claims description 10
- 239000001117 sulphuric acid Substances 0.000 claims description 10
- 229910052951 chalcopyrite Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 7
- DVRDHUBQLOKMHZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N chalcopyrite Chemical compound [S-2].[S-2].[Fe+2].[Cu+2] DVRDHUBQLOKMHZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 7
- LGQLOGILCSXPEA-UHFFFAOYSA-L nickel sulfate Chemical compound [Ni+2].[O-]S([O-])(=O)=O LGQLOGILCSXPEA-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 claims description 6
- 241000203069 Archaea Species 0.000 claims description 5
- 229910052954 pentlandite Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000004064 recycling Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 241000894006 Bacteria Species 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000005188 flotation Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000000605 extraction Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 7
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 7
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 7
- 239000002253 acid Substances 0.000 description 6
- 238000002386 leaching Methods 0.000 description 6
- XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N Iron Chemical compound [Fe] XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 5
- QGZKDVFQNNGYKY-UHFFFAOYSA-N Ammonia Chemical compound N QGZKDVFQNNGYKY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 239000003513 alkali Substances 0.000 description 4
- 241000205101 Sulfolobus Species 0.000 description 3
- 239000003153 chemical reaction reagent Substances 0.000 description 3
- 229910052500 inorganic mineral Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 239000011707 mineral Substances 0.000 description 3
- 235000008733 Citrus aurantifolia Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 235000019738 Limestone Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 235000011941 Tilia x europaea Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 229910021529 ammonia Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 229910052742 iron Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000004571 lime Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000006028 limestone Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 2
- 150000002739 metals Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 239000002002 slurry Substances 0.000 description 2
- JPVYNHNXODAKFH-UHFFFAOYSA-N Cu2+ Chemical compound [Cu+2] JPVYNHNXODAKFH-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- QAOWNCQODCNURD-UHFFFAOYSA-L Sulfate Chemical compound [O-]S([O-])(=O)=O QAOWNCQODCNURD-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 1
- 229910001431 copper ion Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-AHCXROLUSA-N copper-60 Chemical compound [60Cu] RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-AHCXROLUSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000005363 electrowinning Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052739 hydrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000001257 hydrogen Substances 0.000 description 1
- -1 hydrogen ions Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 238000005342 ion exchange Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002904 solvent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910021653 sulphate ion Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
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- Manufacture And Refinement Of Metals (AREA)
Description
bd v
RECOVERY OF NICKEL AND COPPER FROM SULPHIDE CONCENTRATES BY BIOLEACHING
This invention relates to the recovery of nickel and copper from concentrates which contain minerals of both metals.
The specification of South African patent No. 98/2549 describes a process for the recovery of copper which includes the following steps: (a) biologically oxidising copper sulphate concentrate in slurry form to dissolve copper as soluble copper sulphate; (b) subjecting the slurry to solid/liquid separation to produce a solution with a high copper concentration, (c) treating the solution with a solvent extraction reagent so that copper ions are exchanged by the reagent for hydrogen ions to produce a raffinate which is high in sulphuric acid and low in copper sulphate; (d) stripping the solvent extraction reagent with a sulphuric acid solution, (e) electrowinning copper from the sulphuric acid solution; and fH using at least a portion of the raffinate from step (c) in step (a).
An important feature of this process is the application of biologically assisted leaching of copper concentrates with the use of a portion of the raffinate produced by solvent extraction to satisfy the demand for acid in the leaching step.
2 v t
The present invention is concerned with the recovery of nickel and copper from a concentrate which contains a substantial amount of nickel.
The invention provides a process for recovering nickel and copper from a concentrate which includes the steps of: (a) subjecting the concentrate to a treatment phase to produce: (1) a first leach solution which contains predominantly copper and (2) a second leach solution which contains predominantly nickef; ~ (b) subjecting the first leach solution to a process for copper recovery which includes } a solvent extraction step to produce a raffinate which is high in sulphuric acid; (c) recycling at least a portion of the raffinate to the treatment phase of step (a), and (d) subjecting the second leach solution to a process for nickel recovery. in one form of the invention the treatment phase of step (a) includes the steps of: (e) separating the concentrate by flotation into a first concentrate which is substantially a copper concentrate and a second concentrate which is substantially a nickel concentrate; (f) biologically oxidising the first concentrate to produce the said first leach solution, and hd . 3 . : (g) biologically oxidising the second concentrate to produce the said second leach solution.
With this form of the invention the raffinate produced in step (b) is recycled at least to the oxidation step (f). The raffinate may, depending on the conditions, also be recycled : to the oxidation step (g).
The process of step (d) may include a step of solvent extraction to extract copper from the second leach solution before nickel is recovered from the second leach solution.
Preferably step (f) is carried out at an elevated temperature, eg. from 65°C to 80°C, so that thermophilic archaea such as Sulfolobus are active and chalcopyrite is thereby dissolved by biological oxidation.
In a second form of the invention the treatment phase of step (a) includes the steps of subjecting the concentrate in series: (h) to a first biological oxidation step to dissolve nickel as nickel sulphate in the said . second leach liquor, and (i) to a second biologica: oxidation step to dissolve copper as copper sulphate in the : said first leach liquor.
In step (h) the oxidation may be conducted at a moderate temperature, of ; the order of from 40°C to 45°C. to dissolve pentlandite as nickel sulphate, with use being made of mesophilic. or moderate thermotolerant. bacteria.
v t
In step (i) the oxidation may be conducted at a relatively elevated temperature, of the order of 70°C to 80°C, to dissolve chalcopyrite as copper sulphate, with use being made of thermotolerant or thermophilic bacteria or archaea, such as the type Sulfolobus.
In each case solid/liquid separation is used to obtain a solution.
The nickel sulphate may be subjected to solvent extraction for copper, before nickel recovery takes place.
The copper sulphate is subjected to solvent extraction for copper, thereby producing the said raffinate which is high in sulphuric acid and which is recycled to at least one of the oxidation steps.
‘ The invention is further described by way of examples with reference to the : accompanying drawings. Figures 1 and 2, which respectively illustrate different embodiments of the invention.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings illustrates a process for the recovery of nickel and copper from a concentrate 10 which contains minerals of both metals. The concentrate 10 is subjected to a flotation process 12 which separates the concentrate into a first concentrate 14 which is substantially a copper concentrate, with some nickel usually in the form of pentlandite, and into a second concentrate 16 which is substantially a nickel concentrate, mainly pentlandite, with some copper present usually in the form of chalcopyrite.
, .
The copper concentrate 14 is subjected to a biological oxidation and leaching step 18 and then to a solid/liquid separation step 20. This is followed by a solvent extraction phase 22 which produces copper 24 and a raffinate 26 which has a high acid content.
In the method of the aforementioned patent at least a portion of the raffinate is recycled 5 to the biological oxidation step. In the present invention though substantially all of the raffinate 26 is recycled. at least a portion thereof going to the biological oxidation and leaching step 18.
The nickel concentrate 16 is subjected to a biological oxidation and leaching step 28.
Acid is obtained from the remaining portion of the recycled raffinate 26. The step 28 is followed by a solid/liquid separation step 30 and the copper in solution is recovered by a - solvent extraction step 32. . - An alkali 34 such as lime, limestone or ammonia is used to precipitate iron and some copper 36, and the resulting solution is then treated for nickel recovery in a step 38.
Again alkali 40 is added to the solution, at this stage, because ion exchange and solvent extraction for nickel requires a high pH.
After the nickel recovery the solution has no free acid and the solution is not recycled to the biological oxidation stages. It may be recycled for solution balance or it may be used as wash water in the solid/liquid separation steps 20 and 30.
A significant advantage of this process is that a substantial saving in sulphuric acid is achieved by recycling the raffinate to the stages 18 and 28.
6 . ¢
The biological oxidation steps 18 and 28 are preferably conducted at elevated temperatures of the order of from 65°C to 80°C so that thermophilic archaea such as
Sulfolobus are active and chalcopyrite is dissolved.
Figure 2 illustrates a second embodiment of the process of the invention.
A concentrate 50 which contains minerals of nickel and copper is subjected to two biological oxidation steps 52 and 54 which are carried out sequentially i.e. in series, thereby producing a leach solution which contains most of the nickel and a small quantity of copper. and another leach solution which contains most of the copper and a small quantity of nickel.
In the step 52 biological oxidation is conducted using mesophiles at a moderate temperature of the order of 40°C to 45°C, or moderate thermophiles at a temperature of 45°C to 55°C. Nickel in the form of pentlandite is dissolved as nickel. Some copper is - also dissolved. The leach solution is subjected to a solid/liquid separation step 56 and the resulting solution is treated with a solvent (58) for extracting copper 60. Alkali 62, in the form of lime, limestone or ammonia is then added to the solution to precipitate copper and iron (64) and the resulting solution is subjected to nickel recovery 66 after alkali 68 is added. After the nickel 70 has been extracted the remaining solution 72 is not suitable for recycling for acid content but. as has been described hereinbefore, can be recycled for solution balance.
The second biological oxidation step 54 is carried out at an elevated temperature of the order of 70°C to 85°C using thermophiles. Copper in the form of chalcopyrite is dissolved to give a leach solution of copper sulphate with a small quantity of nickel
\ hj « sulphate. The solution is subjected to a solid/liquid separation step 74 and thereafter copper 76 is recovered by means of a solvent extraction phase 78. The resulting raffinate 80 is high in sulphuric acid and, as is the case with the Figure 1 embodiment, is recycled to one or both of the oxidation steps 52 and 54. Thus the acid is recovered.
In both embodiments the sulphuric acid in the raffinate can be recovered by recycling the raffinate to the biological oxidation and leaching step. This results in a significant cost saving.
Claims (14)
1. A process for recovering nickel and copper from a concentrate which includes the steps of: (a) subjecting the concentrate to a treatment phase to produce: (1) ~~ afirst leach solution which contains predominantly copper and (2) a second leach solution which contains predominantly nickel; (b) subjecting the first leach solution to a process for copper recovery which includes a solvent extraction step to produce a raffinate which is high in sulphuric acid; (c) recycling at least a portion of the raffinate to the treatment phase of step (a), and i (d) subjecting the second leach solution to a process for nickel recovery.
2. A process according to claim 1 wherein the treatment phase of step (a) includes the steps of: (e) separating the concentrate by flotation into a first concentrate which is substantially a copper concentrate and a second concentrate which is : substantially a nickel concentrate; f) biologically oxidising the first concentrate to produce the said first leach solution, and (9) biologically oxidising the second concentrate to produce the said second leach solution.
} *
3. A process according to claim 2 wherein the raffinate produced in step (b) is recycled at least to the oxidation step (f).
4 A process according to claim 3 wherein the raffinate is also recycled to the oxidation step (g).
5. A process according to claim 2, 3 or 4 wherein step (f) is carried out at an elevated temperature so that thermophilic archaea are active and chalcopyrite is thereby dissolved by biological oxidation.
6. A process according to claim 5 wherein the said elevated temperature is from 65°C to 80°C.
7 A process according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the process of step (d) includes a step of soivent extraction to extract copper from the second leach solution before nickel is recovered from the second leach solution.
8. A process according to claim 1 wherein the treatment phase of step (a) includes the steps of subjecting the concentrate in series: (h) to a first biological oxidation step to dissolve nickel as nickel sulphate in the said second leach liquor, and (1) to a second biological oxidation step to dissolve copper as copper sulphate in the said first leach liquor.
oS. A process according to claim 8 wherein in step (h) the oxidation is conducted at a moderate temperature to dissolve pentlandite as nickel sulphate, with use being made of mesophilic. or moderate thermotolerant, bacteria. —
10. A process according to claim 9 wherein the said moderate temperature is from 40°C to 45°C.
11. A process according to claim 8, 9 or 10 wherein in step (i) the oxidation is conducted at a relatively elevated temperature to dissolve chalcopyrite as copper sulphate. with use being made of thermotolerant or thermophilic bacteria or archaea.
12. A process according to claim 11 wherein the said relatively elevated temperature is from 70°C to 80°C.
13. A process according to any one of claims 8 to 12 wherein the nickel sulphate is subjected to solvent extraction for copper, before nickel recovery takes place.
14. A process according to any one of claims 8 to 13 wherein the copper sulphate is subjected to solvent extraction for copper. thereby producing the said raffinate which is high in sulphuric acid and which is recycled.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZA200201533A ZA200201533B (en) | 1999-09-09 | 2002-02-25 | Recovery of nickel and copper from sulphide concentrates by bioleaching. |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZA995795 | 1999-09-09 | ||
| ZA200201533A ZA200201533B (en) | 1999-09-09 | 2002-02-25 | Recovery of nickel and copper from sulphide concentrates by bioleaching. |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| ZA200201533B true ZA200201533B (en) | 2002-10-30 |
Family
ID=27738130
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZA200201533A ZA200201533B (en) | 1999-09-09 | 2002-02-25 | Recovery of nickel and copper from sulphide concentrates by bioleaching. |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| ZA (1) | ZA200201533B (en) |
-
2002
- 2002-02-25 ZA ZA200201533A patent/ZA200201533B/en unknown
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