JSC “Kola MMC”, Monchegorsk, Russia:

O. A. Khomchenko, Chief Specialist of Department of Scientific-Technical Developments (Board of Scientific-Technical Development and Ecological Safety)
G. I. Sadovskaya, Deputy Head of Control-Analysis Center on Scientific-Research Work — Head of Scientific-Research Department, phone: 8 (81536) 7-98-09
V. L. Dubrovskiy, Head of Department (Board of Scientific-Technical Development and Ecological Safety)
P. V. Smirnov, Chief Specialist of Hydrometallurgical Department of Scientific-Research Part of Control-Analysis Center

LLC “Institute “Gipronikel”, Saint Petersburg, Russia:
S. L. Tsapakh, Leading Researcher of Hydrometallurgy Laboratory

For the recent 15 years, Institute “Gipronikel”, in collaboration with Kola MMC specialists, have developed the methods of process flowsheet of electrolyte nickel and cobalt production, based on chlorine leaching of various ore feed types, such as ore concentrate copper-nickel matte, nickel concentrate from high-grade matte separation, and tube kiln nickel powder. Chlorine method of processing of copper-nickel intermediates leads to shortening of pyrometallurgical flowsheet circuits and decreasing of corresponding losses, power and labour cost, as well as favours environmental situation improvement. Existence of consistent flowsheet was proved for any feed type, ensuring nonferrous metals passing into solution and their separation into products, suitable for further processing. Precious metals are recovered into leaching residue, which is further processed for production of platinum metal selective concentrates. Correct selection of the Redox potential for leaching is the key issue ensuring profound recovery of non-ferrous metals into solution at minimum platinum metal losses. All flowsheet implementation options were studied on laboratory scale. Pilot testing of high-grade matte metallised fraction dissolution was carried out at the Nickel Electrolysis Department (“Severonickel” Combine). Dissolution of tube klin nickel powder is carried out in the scheme of compensation of water-soluble nickel deficiency. For a number of years, Nickel Electrolysis Department cells have been operating according to the process of nickel electric extraction from sulfate-chloride electrolyte for production of N1y (Н1у) nickel. Currently, cobalt production capacity, based on chlorine process, makes 200 tpa of C0 and C1Ay electrolyte cobalt. Nowadays, cobalt Electrolyte Department of 3000 tpa capacity is under construction.

1. Tsapakh S. L., Demidov K. A., Khomchenko O. A., Sadovskaya G. I. Zakonomernosti protsessov pererabotki medno-nikelevogo faynshteyna primenitelno k khlornoy tekhnologii proizvodstva elektrolitnogo nikelya (Regularities of processes of copper-nickel converter matte treatment, applied to chlorine processing technology of elecrolyte nickel). Tsvetnye Metally = Non-ferrous metals. 2009. No. 9. pp. 72–75.
2. Tsapakh S. L., Lutova L. S., Chetverkin A. Yu. Mekhanizm osazhdeniya medi iz khloridnykh rastvorov v prisutstvii elementnoy sery i vosstanovitelya (Mechanism of sedimentation of copper from chloride solutions in presence of elemental sulfur and reduction). Tsvetnye Metally = Non-ferrous metals. 2012. No. 4. pp. 26–31.
3. Demidov K. A., Khomchenko O. A., Sadovskaya G. I., Tsapakh S. L. Sposob polucheniya nikelya i kontsentrata dragotsennykh metallov iz medno-nikelevogo faynshteyna (Method of obtaining of nickel and concentrate of noble metals from copper-nickel converter matte). Patent RF, No. 2415956 RF. Applied: October 14, 2009. Published: April 10, 2011. Bulletin No. 10.
4. Demidov K. A., Khomchenko O. A., Sadovskaya G. I., Tsapakh S. L., Kalashnikova M. I., Keller V. V. Sposob proizvodstva kontsentrata dragotsennykh metallov iz sulfidnogo medno-nikelevogo syrya (Method of production of concentrate of precious meals from sulfide copper-nickel raw materials). Patent RF, No. 2444573. Applied: January 20, 2010. Published: July 27, 2011. Bulletin No. 21.
5. Demidov K. A., Besedovskiy S. G., Shelestov N. A., Khomchenko O. A., Sadovskaya G. I., Zhilichkin S. I. Sposob polucheniya elektrolitnogo nikelya (Method of obtaining of electrolyte nickel). Patent RF, No. 2303086. Applied: February 20, 2007. Published: July 20, 2007. Bulletin No. 20.
6. Dubrovskiy V. L., Khomchenko O. A., Pleshkov M. A., Tsapakh S. L., Zatitskiy B. E. Sposob polucheniya kobalta i ego soedineniy (Method of obtaining of cobalt and its compounds). Patent RF, No. 2444574. Applied: August 20, 2010. Published: March 10, 2012. Bulletin No. 7.