Nosov Magnitogorsk State Technical University, Magnitogorsk, Russia

V. A. Bigeev, Dr. Eng., Prof., Dept. of Metallurgy and Chemical Technologies
A. S. Kharchenko, Dr. Eng., Associate Prof., Head of the Dept. of Metallurgy and Chemical Technologies, e-mail: as.magtu@mail.ru
S. K. Sibagatullin, Dr. Eng., Prof., Dept. of Metallurgy and Chemical Technologies, e-mail: 10tks@mail.ru
M. V. Potapova, Cand. Eng., Associate Prof., Dept. of Metallurgy and Chemical Technologies

MGTU-Proekt Ltd., Moscow, Russia
I. A. Grishin, Cand. Eng., Associate Prof., Leading Specialist

The results of research on the development of a technological scheme for processing of Sakharinskoe deposit`s nickel-containing ore with production of hydrogen ferronickel, cast iron and waste slag are presented. Using previously obtained calculation data in laboratory conditions, the implementation of each stage of the proposed technology from the enrichment of feedstock to the production of ferronickel, cast iron and waste slag was confirmed. The results of the study showed that the reduction of nickel from ore with hydrogen ends at temperatures of 700–900 °C. Under these conditions, iron oxides are reduced mainly to FeO and partially (5–15 %) to metallic iron. When studying the process of reduction of iron and nickel from an oxide melt, the possibility of separating them into various products by precise dosage of the reducing agent was shown. As a result of laboratory studies on the processing of Sakharinskoe deposit`s ores using the method of selective hydrogen solid-phase reduction, ferronickel and ferrous slag were obtained. From ore containing 0.4–0.8 % Ni, ferronickel with a content of 4–15 % Ni in the alloy was obtained. It has been shown that nickel recovery reaches 80–85%. The ferrous slag was then subjected to liquid phase carbothermic reduction to produce cast iron (4.12 % C, 0.86 % Si, 0.65 % Cr) and waste slag. The implementation of the technology at the country's metallurgical enterprises will allow a significant amount of off-balance nickel-containing ores of the Ural region to be included in the active balance and will provide the domestic industry with ferronickel and high-quality charge.

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