Leaching of Rapidly Cooled Copper-Nickel Converter Mattes

摘要

Physicochemical studies aimed at increasing the technological efficiency of the hydrometallurgical sulfuric acid processing of copper-nickel converter mattes are presented. The influence of preliminary quenching on sulfuric acid leaching at a sulfuric acid concentration of 100-200 g/L is studied on copper-nickel converter matte samples with the Ni to Cu weight ratios 2 : 1 and 3 : 4 taken from Norilsk Nickel. Preliminary quenching of the copper-nickel converter matte from 1200 degrees C is found to shorten the leaching time by three times compared to the traditional leaching of the slowly cooled converter matte and to pass up to 99% Ni to the solution, leaving up to 74.5% Cu in a cake. A decrease in the Ni to Cu ratio from 2 : 1 to 3 : 4 in the quenched converter matte increases the yield of the copper cake.