“Gipronikel Institute” LLC, Saint Petersburg, Russia

S. S. Ozerov, Engineer, e-mail: SSOze@nikel.spb.su
A. B. Portov, Researcher
B. L. Blekhshteyn, Leading Engineer
L. Sh. Tsemekhman, Head of Laboratory of Pyrometallurgy

Polar Division of MMC “Norilsk Nickel”, Norilsk, Russia.

V. B. Fomichev, Chief Specialist of Scientific and Engineering Department

At the Arctic Division of M&MC “Norilsk Nickel” has arisen the demand in sandstone (silica flux) used in all pyrometallurgical processes at all operations. Partially this demand was satisfied on the account of expensive river sand. As one of the options of this problem solving it was offered to use store sandstone spillage quarried at Kayerkansky surface coal mine. In search of the ways to cope with the increased need for lump sandstone (silica flux) in the Arctic Division of M&MC “Norilsk Nickel” the Gipronickel Institute has performed studies on the possibility to briquette stored sandstone spillage from Kayerkansky Surface Coal Mine of the Board of Non-metallic Mining Operations. It is envisaged to use spillage briquettes as flux in the process of converting and in electric furnaces to substitute lump sandstone. In the first part of this work were considered the effectiveness of binders, having non-organic origin, as well as the influence of the method of charge preparation and its humidity on briquettes strength properties. In the second part examines the possibility to use liquid lignosulphonate as a binder in sandstone briquetting. Comparative assessment of the effectiveness of nickel sulfate, alkali silicate and lignosulphonate use in sandstone spillage briquetting is done. Binding agent effectiveness is determined by the ratio between its consumption and achievable strength properties of agglomerated material, and also by fin output (material with particles size less than 5 mm). By the results of the performed investigations it was determined that liquid lignosulphonate use is the most effective option in sandstone spillage briquetting.

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