Recent papers on SX/EW technology
BATEMAN personnel presented six papers at the South African Institute
for Mining and Metallurgy’s solvent extraction and electro winning
(SX/EW) school, held in Johannesburg in October 1999. The titles and
brief abstracts are given below. Except where otherwise indicated, all
authors and presenters listed are from BATEMAN.
Developments in Liquid-Liquid Contacting Unit Designs’ by SF Burks
– presented by SF Burks. Novel equipment can improve SX transfer
efficiency or reduce capital and operating costs. The basic designs
and specific installations of the BATEMAN Settler TM, (a patented reverse
flow mixer-settler), the IMI mixer and compact settler and BATEMAN pulsed
column are described.
Comparison of the Performance of Full Scale Pulsed Columns vs. Mixer-Settlers
for Uranium Solvent Extraction’ by RL Movsowitz, R Kleinberger,
Dr EM Buchalter, et al – presented by J Riordan. An extended quantitative
comparison between full-scale BATEMAN pulsed columns and mixer settlers
for uranium solvent extraction revealed that, with columns, the entrainment
of solvent is lower, mechanical failures are less frequent, less crud
is formed, solvent losses are smaller and plant operation is simpler.
The extraction performance of the two BATEMAN pulsed columns was excellent
with extraction yields of about 98 %. The results convinced Western
Mining Corporation Pty Ltd (WMC) to install 10 similar columns for the
plant’s expansion.
Bateman Pulsed Column Technology for Cu SX in the New ACTIVOX Process’
by G Johnson (WMC), Dr EM Buchalter, R Kleinberger, RL Movsowitz and
J Riordan – presented by J Riordan.
An evaluation and cost comparison is made of the solvent extraction
and recovery of copper using conventional mixer-settlers and BATEMAN
pulsed columns.
Two streams of solution from a Cu-Ni-Co concentrate treated by the
ACTIVOX process were investigated. The conclusion was that while capital
costs would be similar, operating costs.
In BATEMAN pulsed column circuits would be significantly lower. A Case
Study of Three Different Solvent Extraction Circuits used for the Separation
of Nickel and Cobalt’ by AJ Lathwood, J Riordan and AG Pavlides
– presented by PJ Cilliers. Comparisons of the relative merits,
with respect to design, capital cost and operation, are made of the
separation of cobalt and nickel using Cyanex 272 in Hartley Platinum’s
conventional mixer-settler circuit, Bulong Nickel’s BATEMAN reverse
flow mixer-settler circuit and Impala Platinum’s pilot BATEMAN
pulsed column circuit.
A Case Study of the Commissioning of the Nickel Electrowinning Circuit
at Hartley Platinum Base Metal Refinery’ by AJ Lathwood, –
presented by AJ Lathwood.
The commissioning and ramp-up experiences at Hartley Platinum’s
nickel electrowinning plant are covered, with special reference to the
mechanical, chemical and operational challenges to ensure that the plant
met design specifications.
Developments in Cobalt and Nickel Electrowinning Technology’,
by AG Pavlides – presented by KG Fisher. The plant practice at
several Southern African and Canadian nickel and cobalt electrowinning
tankhouses is reviewed and compared. The implementation in existing
tankhouses of innovations in organic removal technology, anode technology,
cell design and tankhouse ventilation on operating practices is discussed.
Potential implications on design of new plants are explained.
Please contact Mr Steve Burks, Managing Director, Bateman Metals,
on +27-11-899-2756 for more details.
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