LLC “Institute “Gipronikel”, Saint Petersburg, Russia:

Yu. A. Savinova, Junior Researcher
L. Sh. Tsemekhman, Head of Pyrometallurgy Laboratory, e-mail: LST@nikel.spb.ru
A. B. Portov, Researcher

LLC “Baikal Mining Company”, Moscow, Russia:

D. A. Lapshin, Chief Specialist

Series of experiments on high-temperature (‘dead’, i.e. absolutely complete) and low-temperature (suphatising) roasting in the pilot fluidised bed furnace were carried out within the development of efficient technology of Udokan deposit copper concentrate processing. Sulfuric acid leaching was applied to roasted products (cinders and dust). Material composition of concentrate feed, roasted products and hydrometallurgical processing cakes were studied, using scanning electron microscopy and electron probe microanalysis. Ferrites, spinels, and residual sulfides were found to be the basic copperbearing elements, insoluble at leaching. Moreover, unstable copper impurities were revealed among the minerals in non-metallic concentrate part. The soluble part of roasted products included sulfate and oxide components. There was investigated the dependency of indices of cinders hydrometallurgical processing on material composition and roasting conditions. The most favourable ratio of soluble and insoluble components in cinders was achieved by sulfatising roasting. The dust samples research revealed that, generally, all dust samples were less oxidized (in comparison with cinders) and contained substantial amount of sulfide particles. Thus, the dusts cannot be directly delivered to the leaching circuit. Recirculation of dusts to the fluidised bed furnace is recommended for additional roasting. On the basis of obtained results, optimal roasting conditions were selected, ensuring minimum content of non-liberated particles in cinders. The achieved rate of copper recovery by leaching is within 94–98% (rel.).

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