“Norilsk Nickel” MMC, Moscow, Russia

M. N. Naftal, Head of Department (Technical Department of Administration of Operational Production Control), phone: +7 (495) 786-83-75

Polar Division of “Norilsk Nickel” MMC, Norilsk, Russia
T. P. Saverskaya, Chief Specialist (Center of Engineering Maintenance of Production)
T. A. Makarova, Counselor of First Deputy Executive Officer — Chief Engineer (Department of Polar Division)
A. F. Petrov, Head of Laboratory (Center of Engineering Maintenance of Production)
A. I. Yurev, Executive Officer (Center of Engineering Maintenance of Production)

Nowadays, losses of precious metals with final tailings in hydrometallurgical production of “Nadezhda” Metallurgical Plant are 45–50%. Application of alternative nonsolvent reagent (calcium sulphite-bisulphite reagent) instead of metalized iron pellets during the sedimentation of non-ferrous metals is one of methods of this problem solving. As a result of exploratory researches, there was substantiated, that application of calcium reagent in operating technology is conductive to decreasing of losses of precious metals with final tailings. Sulphitebisulphite nonsolvent reagent was obtained by the processing of water lime suspension with gaseous mixture, containing 30–36% (gen.) of SO₂. Operating of reagent was carried out with a temperature of 25–30 ^оC. The model gases, manufactured by mixing of air and sulphur dioxide from balloon, were used in experiments. Concentration of sulphur dioxide in air-gas mixture corresponded to its content in rich gases of flash smelting furnaces of “Nadezhda” Metallurgical Plant. Optimal content of solid reagent in manufacturing operation was 350–400 g/dm³, pH ~ 2.5. Pilot sample of calcium reagent was tested in operation of sedimentation of non-ferrous metals in laboratory scale. Interaction of sulphite- and bisulphite ions with finely dispersed elemental sulphur takes place during the realization of sedimentation process in high-temperature mode (125–130 ^оC). This sulphur is included in solid phase of pulp, oxidized as a result of leaching of pyrrhotine concentrate. At the same time, there are formed the unsaturated sulphur calcium compounds, which cause the sedimentation of non-ferrous metals from solution, in the form of sulphides. As a result of researches, there are defined the optimal conditions of operation of non-ferrous metals, sedimentation: temperature = 125–130 ^оC; reagent consumption = 100–110 kg/t of pyrrhotine concentrate; duration = 60 min. The required depth of sedimentation of nickel from solution at the level of 0.15–0.25 g/dm³ is reached in the foregoing conditions with final pH = 3.5. Researches of sulphur-sulphide flotation of pulp after sedimentation were carried out for the purpose of estimation of influence of calcium reagent on technological indices of following operations. Extraction of amount of platinum group metals into sulphur-sulphide concentrate in laboratory conditions is 80–83%, taking into account the optimal conditions of sulphursulphide flotation with 450 g/t of losses of solid butyl xanthate of calium and 100 g/t of losses of solid oil-organic compound DP-4 SM (ДП-4 СМ).

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