JSC “Kola Mining and Metallurgical Company”, Monchegorsk, Russia.

A. V. Zakharov, Head of Hydrometallurgical Section of Metallurgical Shop I. E. Malts, Head of Hydrometallurgical Section of Research Department of Control and Analytic Center, е-mail: maltsie@kolagmk.ru
O. A. Khomchenko, Chief Specialist of Department of Scientific and Engineering Workings of Scientific and Engineering Development and Ecological Safety Office

Kola Science Center of Russian Academy of Sciences, Monchegorsk, Russia.

A. G. Kasikov, Head of Department of Cobalt, Nickel and Noble Metals Hydrometallurgy of Laboratory of Development and Introduction of Chemical Technology Processes

This article gives the brief characteristics of development of method for extraction and purification of metals. There is given the history of researches in the area of extraction of cobalt, copper, iron and sulphuric acid at Severonickel combine (Kola Mining and Metallurgical Company). There are described the peculiarities of hydrochloric technology of hydrate cobalt concentrates processing. This technology is based on liquid extraction with application of tertiary amines for extraction and deep purification of cobalt from impurities. There is given the characteristic of extraction equipment, used for obtaining of pure cobalt chloride solutions. There are described the stages of mastering of production of basic cobalt carbonate and metallic electrolyte cobalt from cobalt concentrates. High quality of cobalt, produced on the plant of Kola Mining and Metallurgical Company, is described along with availability of its usage in production of last generation heat-resistance alloys for aerospace engineering. Mastering of extraction technology of cobalt manufacturing on pilot plant became the basis for the beginning of construction of production line of 3000 tones of cobalt per year at Kola Mining and Metallurgical Company. This construction is planned to be started to the end of 2014. There are given the results of industrial testings of extraction of sulphuric acid from copper electrolytes. For this purpose, usage of extraction mixture of tertiary amine with aliphatic alcohol makes it possible to regenerate ~75% of sulphuric acid. There is defined the negative influence of extragent impurities in electrolyte on cathode copper quality. There is defined that deep purification of regenerated sulphuric acid from extragent is possible during its usage for copper scoria leaching. There are presented the results of laboratory and industrial testings of scheme of extraction purification of copper electrolytes from zinc. This scheme was applied in industry in 2010. There are shown the prospects of expanding of usage of extraction in copper-nickel production technology.

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