PJSC “MMC “Norilsk Nickel”, Polar Division, Norilsk, Russia:

O. V. Bolshakova, Head of Laboratory, Center for Engineering Support of Production, e-mail: bolshakovao@nornik.ru
E. V. Salimzhanova, Deputy Director, Center for Engineering Support of Production, e-mail: salimzhanovaev@nk.nornik.ru

PO “NPP Kvalitet”, Moscow, Russia:

M. N. Naftal, Deputy Director for Metallurgy and Enrichment, e-mail: naftalmn@gmail.com

Institute of Non-Ferrous Metals and Materials Science, Siberian Federal University, Krasnoyarsk, Russia:

N. V. Belousova, Head of the Department of Metallurgy of Non-Ferrous Metals, e-mail: netnat1@rambler.ru

Nickel powder production in a tube furnace employing available feedstock and minimum power for Ni oxide reduction is one of the promising way to cut the production costs for Ni powder used to remove Cu ions from Ni electrolyte by cementation. Recent studies carried out in Norilsk Nickel resulted in the fine-tuned Ni powder process flowsheet. Unlike ANP production technique of OJSC Kola MMC, the Polar Division flowsheet provides reagent nickel powder of proper quality with no liquid petrochemicals added in the process. It implies reduction at lower temperatures, supply of natural gas and air to the rotary tube furnace burner to maintain the required reduction temperature, use of Kayerkansky open pit coal as a reductant with higher ash content compared to coal from Bachatsky open pit used at Kola MMC. Previous investigations of Gipronickel Institute indicates that the solid reductants with lower volatiles and ash content at Kola MMC do not ensure ANP to comply with the process requirements. It can be assumed that freshly reduced nickel oxide is catalytically active towards the oxidative conversion of gaseous hydrocarbons, namely methane, while palladium present in initial nickel oxide significantly increases its catalytic activity. The critical affecting factors are as follows: Ni-Pd ratio of the initial Ni oxide, specific ratio of carbon monoxide and molecular hydrogen generated during the solid reductant oxidation and catalytic oxidative conversion of gaseous hydrocarbons into synthetic gas, temperature range of reduction.

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