Seven papers presented at the South African Institute of Mining and
Metallurgy's Copper, Cobalt, Nickel & Zinc Recovery Conference,
held in Zimbabwe during July 2001, were authored or co-authored by Bateman
personnel.
The titles and brief abstracts are given below. Except where otherwise
indicated, the authors and presenters are
BATEMAN personnel.
Design and operating experience from the
Mt Gordon Copper operations of Western Metals
by KG Baxter and GD Richmond (Western Metals Ltd) and TW Lancaster
(Western Metals Ltd) - presented by Colin Kaiser.
The development of the Mt Gordon process for the treatment of ore containing
secondary copper sulphides, comprising an autoclave leach, solid/liquid
separation, solvent extraction and electrowinning, is described. This
is a valuable case study of all aspects of the operation and implementation
of this technology to copper deposits of this type.
Email Colin Kaiser at Colin.Kaiser@bmi.co.za
Dense-medium separation testwork and computer simulations of practical
separations for the pre-concentration of base metal ores
by GM Cresswell - presented by Mark Cresswell.
The potential benefits of increasing plant throughput by pre-concentration
using dense-media separation (DMS) is illustrated with reference to
several pre-feasibility studies on new and existing deposits. Appropriate
separation equipment was selected and capital and operating costs estimated.
Computer simulation was used to predict practical operating performance
without having to pursue costly pilot-plant test work.
Email Mark Creswell at markc@bmi.co.za.
Nickel laterite processing in Western Australia
by R Mayze - presented by Richard Mayze.
The technical and financial aspects of the processing of nickel laterite
ores on three sites in Western Australia -
Bulong, Cawse and Murrin Murrin - to produce metallic nickel via pressure
acid leaching is presented. The design details, commissioning and operating
problems of this leading-edge technology are compared. All three plants
now report that operating costs are lower than revenue from sales.
Email Dave Arnold at dave.arnold@batemanengineering.com
Cobalt and nickel removal from Zincor impure electrolyte by molecular-recognition
technology (MRT) - pilot plant demonstration
by GJ van Tonder, PJ Cilliers, EHO Meyer (Zincor), NM Vegter (Iscor),
R Klue, SR Izatt (IBC Advanced Technologies) and RL Bruening (IBC Advanced
Technologies) - presented by NM Vegter (Iscor).
A pilot-plant based on MRT, a highly selective separation technology,
demonstrated the purification of a zinc
electrolyte by the removal of cobalt and nickel to produce saleable,
pure cobalt and nickel sulphate. The process has several advantages,
including the elimination of the need for a catalyst like arsenic trioxide,
conventionally used in cobalt and nickel cementation.
Email Neill Birdsey at nbirdsey@bmi.co.za
Zinc sulphate extraction by BATEMAN pulsed column technology
by R Kleinberger - presenter Rafi Kleinberger.
Pilot-scale tests on zinc extraction using a 40 mm diameter BATEMAN
pulsed column resulted in concentrations and yields that were equal
to or better than that attained industrially. The significant potential
for the reduction of capital and operating costs are being verified
by further pilot testing in a 100 mm column.
Email Rafi Kleinberger at bsx@batemanengineering.com
The separation of cobalt and nickel from a calcium-saturated bioleach
liquor using versatic acid in a synergistic mixture with 4-nonyl pyridine
by V Nagel and A Feather (Mintek) - presented by A Feather (Mintek).
A continuous counter-current trial confirmed that cobalt and nickel
could be selectively extracted without any significant co-extraction
of calcium or evidence of gypsum precipitation. The extraction of cobalt
and nickel by ersatic acid was the same whether the synergist was added
or not. The presence of the synergist, however, made the system far
easier to operate, reduced the number of stages by 40 % and reduced
the likelihood of gypsum precipitation.
Email bsx@batemanengineering.com
Recovery of cobalt from slag in a DC-arc furnace at Chambishi, Zambia
by RT Jones (Mintek), GM Denton (Mintek) and QC Reynolds (Mintek),
JAL Parker and GJJ van Tonder -
presented by R Jones (Mintek).
A 40 MW DC-arc furnace was built at Chambishi, Zambia, to recover cobalt
from a 20 Mt furnace-slag dump at
Nkana by producing a cobalt-bearing alloy suitable for further hydrometallurgical
processing. The technology was jointly developed by Mintek and Avmin
and the furnace designed by Bateman Titaco. Power to the furnace was
switched on during January 2001.
Email Jurgens van Tonder at
acfurnaces@batemanengineering.com
For more details, please contact Steve Burks, Managing Director, Bateman
Metals, on +27-11-899-2756 or
email steveb@bmi.co.za.jikuj
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