Nothing Special   »   [go: up one dir, main page]

WO2022118743A1 - Method for preparing nickel oxide ore slurry - Google Patents

Method for preparing nickel oxide ore slurry Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2022118743A1
WO2022118743A1 PCT/JP2021/043307 JP2021043307W WO2022118743A1 WO 2022118743 A1 WO2022118743 A1 WO 2022118743A1 JP 2021043307 W JP2021043307 W JP 2021043307W WO 2022118743 A1 WO2022118743 A1 WO 2022118743A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
slurry
ore
nickel oxide
oxide ore
ore slurry
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/JP2021/043307
Other languages
French (fr)
Japanese (ja)
Inventor
佳智 尾崎
Original Assignee
住友金属鉱山株式会社
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by 住友金属鉱山株式会社 filed Critical 住友金属鉱山株式会社
Publication of WO2022118743A1 publication Critical patent/WO2022118743A1/en

Links

Images

Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
    • C22B23/00—Obtaining nickel or cobalt
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
    • C22B3/00—Extraction of metal compounds from ores or concentrates by wet processes
    • C22B3/04—Extraction of metal compounds from ores or concentrates by wet processes by leaching
    • C22B3/06—Extraction of metal compounds from ores or concentrates by wet processes by leaching in inorganic acid solutions, e.g. with acids generated in situ; in inorganic salt solutions other than ammonium salt solutions
    • C22B3/08—Sulfuric acid, other sulfurated acids or salts thereof
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
    • C22B3/00—Extraction of metal compounds from ores or concentrates by wet processes
    • C22B3/20—Treatment or purification of solutions, e.g. obtained by leaching
    • C22B3/22—Treatment or purification of solutions, e.g. obtained by leaching by physical processes, e.g. by filtration, by magnetic means, or by thermal decomposition
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
    • C22B3/00—Extraction of metal compounds from ores or concentrates by wet processes
    • C22B3/20—Treatment or purification of solutions, e.g. obtained by leaching
    • C22B3/44—Treatment or purification of solutions, e.g. obtained by leaching by chemical processes
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
    • Y02P10/00—Technologies related to metal processing
    • Y02P10/20—Recycling

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method for preparing a nickel oxide ore slurry used as a raw material for a nickel hydrometallurgical method by a high-pressure acid leaching method.
  • a hydrometallurgy method using a high-pressure acid leaching method is known as a method for recovering nickel from low-grade nickel oxide ore.
  • this high-pressure acid leaching method an ore slurry prepared by adding water to the nickel oxide ore is charged into a high-pressure reaction vessel called an autoclave together with sulfuric acid, and acid leaching treatment is performed under high temperature and high pressure.
  • Nickel oxide ore (hereinafter, also simply referred to as ore) used as a raw material for this high-pressure acid leaching method is determined by removing impurities by crushing and classification in the pretreatment step in order to increase the efficiency of the acid leaching treatment. The particle size is fined down to the grain size of.
  • the slurry concentration of the above ore slurry (that is, the mass of the ore in the total mass is expressed as a percentage and is also referred to as the solid content concentration) is usually as low as about 10 to 20% by mass, so this is used as it is. If it is placed in the above high-pressure reaction vessel, the acid leaching process becomes inefficient, and it is necessary to increase the size of the equipment to secure the specified processing capacity, which makes it uneconomical and reduces the nickel recovery rate. ..
  • the ore slurry having a low slurry concentration recovered under the sieve of the wet sieve in the final stage is introduced into a thickener (also referred to as a precipitation concentrator) together with an additive such as a flocculant, and is solidified here.
  • a thickener also referred to as a precipitation concentrator
  • the slurry concentration of the ore slurry is increased by removing the supernatant liquid by liquid separation.
  • Patent Document 1 in a wet smelting method for recovering nickel and cobalt from nickel oxide ore by a high-pressure acid leaching method, the ore slurry obtained by wet-classifying the raw material nickel oxide ore is concentrated by sedimentation separation.
  • a technique for adjusting the amount of the flocculant to be added to the ore slurry according to the magnesium grade contained in the ore is disclosed.
  • the magnesium grade contained in the ore is in the range of 1.4% or more, 1.10 to 1.40%, 0.95 to 1.10%, and 0.95% or less.
  • the slurry of the concentrated slurry obtained by the sedimentation separation is divided into two cases, and the flocculant is added at a ratio of 55 g or less, 60 to 70 g, 70 to 80 g, and 80 g or more per 1 ton of ore for each case. It is stated that the concentration can be stably maintained at a high level.
  • the consumption amount of sulfuric acid added to the ore slurry to which the acid leaching treatment is performed and the acid leaching treatment are performed.
  • a raw material in which a plurality of types of ores are blended is used so that the concentration of nickel contained in the leachate produced in (1) or the concentration of an element other than nickel is within a predetermined range.
  • the behavior (also called thickening) when concentrating by sedimentation due to the action of gravity differs depending on the ore type, so the type and particle size of the ore to be blended and their
  • the slurry concentration of the concentrated slurry extracted from the bottom of the thickener after precipitating and concentrating also fluctuates.
  • the slurry concentration of this concentrated slurry also depends on the shape and size of the thickener, the type and amount of the flocculant to be added to the ore slurry, and the like.
  • the sedimentation rate of the ore in the ore slurry can be increased, the ascending rate of the clear water in the thickener can be increased. Therefore, when the sedimentation tank of the thickener is viewed from above.
  • the area can be reduced. For example, if the sedimentation speed of the ore can be doubled, the diameter of the thickener, which is usually about 20 m, can be reduced to about 14 m. As a result, the equipment cost of the thickener and the maintenance cost thereof can be significantly reduced.
  • the amount of the flocculant added in order to increase the sedimentation rate of the ore in the ore slurry in the thickener can be reduced, the consumption cost of the flocculant can be reduced and an organic coagulant is used.
  • the concentration of the polymer hydrocarbon, which is the main component thereof, in the ore slurry can be reduced, so that the viscosity of the ore slurry is increased by the flocculant and the carbon concentration in the ore slurry is increased. Can be prevented.
  • the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and in the pretreatment step of nickel oxide ore used as a raw material for a wet smelting method of nickel by a high-pressure acid leaching method, the nickel oxide ore is sieved by a wet method. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for preparing a nickel oxide ore slurry capable of efficiently sedimenting and separating the ore slurry recovered under the sieve.
  • the method for preparing a nickel oxide ore slurry according to the present invention is a method for preparing a nickel oxide ore slurry used as a raw material for a wet smelting method of nickel by a high-pressure acid leaching method, and has a Ni grade or Ni.
  • the ore slurry recovered under the sieving can be efficiently settled and separated.
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic vertical sectional view of a thickener preferably used in the pretreatment step S1 of FIG. 1. It is a graph which plotted the influence which the slurry concentration of the ore slurry introduced into the thickener on the settling flux with the coagulant concentration as a parameter.
  • the wet smelting method shown in FIG. 1 applies to the pretreatment step S1 in which pretreatment such as crushing and wet sieving is performed on the raw material nickel oxide ore, and the ore slurry obtained in the pretreatment step S1.
  • the leaching step S2 in which nickel is leached by adding sulfuric acid and performing acid leaching treatment under high temperature and high pressure, and the leaching slurry consisting of the leaching solution and the residue generated in the leaching step S2 are introduced into a plurality of continuous thickeners.
  • the countercurrent multi-stage cleaning step S3 in which the leachate is recovered by separating and removing the residue while washing with the washing liquid flowing in the countercurrent, and the impurity element contained in the leachate by adding a neutralizing agent to the recovered leachate.
  • limonite which is low in grade and inexpensive in magnesium that consumes excessive sulfuric acid
  • limonite has a low Ni grade of about 0.8 to 1.5% by mass, so it is among the Ni grade or elements other than Ni such as Co, Mg, Cr, Fe, Mn, Al, and Si.
  • Multiple ore types so that at least one grade selected from the above becomes a predetermined grade, or the ratio of other specific elements to a specific element to be recovered such as Ni satisfies a predetermined value. Is being blended.
  • saprolite which has a higher magnesium grade than limonite but a nickel grade about twice as high as limonite, is used to satisfy the above conditions such as Ni grade and element grade other than Ni. Often mixed and used.
  • the nickel oxide ore raw material in which a plurality of ore types are blended as described above is preferably finely divided in stages so that the particle size of the ore becomes a predetermined size by using a multi-stage crusher or classifier. Or. Of these multi-stage classifiers, at least in the final stage, a wet sieve such as a vibrating screen or trommel is used, and nickel oxide ore is charged into the classifier together with water for sieving. Therefore, the nickel oxide ore is finally recovered under the sieve in the form of an ore slurry diluted with water.
  • the slurry concentration of the ore slurry finally recovered under the sieve was conventionally in the range of 10 to 20% by mass, and this was directly introduced into the thickener and concentrated to about 40 to 45% by mass. ..
  • the slurry concentration of the ore slurry introduced into the above-mentioned thickener is preferably 3% by mass or more and 6% by mass or less, more preferably. Adjust so that it is 4% by mass or more and 5% by mass or less.
  • the flow rate of the ore slurry introduced into the thickener can be increased or the required area of the thickener can be reduced with almost no change in the slurry concentration of the concentrated ore slurry extracted from the bottom of the thickener.
  • the thickener shown in FIG. 2 has a settling tank 1 having a substantially cylindrical bottom surface having an inclined bottom surface such as a substantially conical shape, and a substantially cylindrical settling tank 1 for introducing an ore slurry provided concentrically with the settling tank 1. It is generally composed of a feedwell 2 in the shape of a feed well and a rake 3 that rotates along the bottom surface to scrape the ore that has settled on the bottom of the settling tank 1.
  • the flocculant is added directly to the feedwell 2 from a flocculant supply device (not shown), or is added to the feedwell 2 via an ore slurry supply pipe 4 having a tip connected to the feedwell 2. Will be done.
  • the ore slurry introduced into the thickener together with the flocculant is deposited on the bottom of the settling tank 1 in the form of an ore slurry having a high slurry concentration by thickening.
  • the deposited high slurry concentration ore slurry is collected by the rake 3 at the center of the bottom of the settling tank 1 and is extracted from the center of the bottom.
  • the extracted ore slurry having a high slurry concentration is transferred to the apparatus of the leaching step S2 of the next step by a slurry pump 5 or the like.
  • the supernatant obtained by separating the ore by the sizing overflows the upper end portion of the settling tank 1 and is extracted through the gutter portion 6 provided on the outer peripheral portion of the settling tank 1.
  • the sedimentation rate of the ore at the time of the above-mentioned sizing is conventionally set. Will be faster than.
  • the installation area can be made smaller than before, and in the case of an existing thickener, the processing capacity can be increased compared to the conventional one, or an ore slurry with a higher slurry concentration can be used at the bottom of the thickener. Can be extracted from.
  • the ore sedimentation rate can be increased by lowering the slurry concentration of the ore slurry introduced into the thickener as described above, but by lowering the slurry concentration of the ore slurry, the said. It is considered that the main factors for increasing the sedimentation rate are that the ore particles contained in the ore slurry are less likely to affect each other and that the viscosity of the ore slurry is low.
  • the aggregating agent added to the ore slurry in the above pretreatment step S1 is preferably an anionic aggregating agent.
  • the flocculant When the flocculant is added to the ore slurry, it is preferable to add the flocculant in a diluted state with water in order to facilitate handling. Further, the amount of the flocculant added is preferably 50 g or less per 1 ton of ore, and more preferably 30 g or more and 40 g or less.
  • the sedimentation rate of the ore is increased by adjusting the slurry concentration of the ore slurry to be introduced into the thickener to a lower level as described above. Even if the amount of the flocculant to be added is reduced to some extent, the ore slurry having a high slurry concentration can be extracted from the bottom of the thickener.
  • the ratio of being removed on the upper side of the sieve is taken into consideration.
  • a larger amount of water may be introduced than before so that the concentration of the ore slurry recovered under the sieve becomes the above-mentioned predetermined concentration, and the wet sieve is operated under the same conditions as before.
  • Water may be added to the ore slurry recovered under the sieve of the wet sieve in the final stage so as to have the above-mentioned predetermined concentration.
  • the settling speed of the ore in the ore slurry introduced into the thickener can be increased by the method for preparing the nickel oxide ore slurry of the present invention, for example, the settling speed can be increased more than twice as fast as compared with the conventional method. Therefore, when a new slurry is installed, the equipment cost can be suppressed and the maintenance cost can be reduced.
  • the processing capacity of the ore slurry can be increased, and the slurry concentration of the concentrated ore slurry extracted from the bottom of the thickener can be further increased.
  • the amount of nickel charged per unit time into the leaching process S2 in the subsequent process can be increased, so that the production amount can be increased and the nickel recovery rate can be increased. Further, since the sedimentation speed of the ore in the ore slurry is increased, the amount of the flocculant added can be reduced, so that the viscosity of the ore slurry can be reduced and the sickening efficiency can be further improved. The carbon concentration in the ore slurry can be reduced.
  • the control of the leaching step S2 and the sulfide step S5 in the subsequent step can be stabilized, and the wet smelting can be performed extremely efficiently. Can be done.
  • Limonite ore which is a typical nickel oxide ore used as a raw material, is sampled in an HPAL (High Pressure Acid Leaching) plant that performs a hydrometallurgical method according to the block flow as shown in FIG. It was analyzed by a fluorescent X-ray analyzer. The analysis results are shown in Table 1 below.
  • the ore Immediately after stirring, the ore is allowed to stand for sedimentation and concentration, and the time from the start of the standing until the gravitational sedimentation of the ore in the ore slurry almost stops, that is, the ore slurry phase immediately after the start of standing. The time from the state where there was no interface with the aqueous phase until the decrease of the interface almost stopped was measured.
  • the settingtling flux R defined by the value obtained by dividing the mass of the ore contained in the 4 liter ore slurry by the above-measured time was obtained.
  • the flocculant an anionic flocculant whose concentration was adjusted with pure water was used, and 20 g, 30 g, and 40 g of the flocculant per ton of ore were contained in the three graduated cylinders in which the ore slurry of each sample was subdivided. was added so as to be the ratio of.
  • the settling flux of the ore slurry of the samples 1 to 7 thus obtained is defined as the slurry concentration (Ws / mass%) of the ore slurry on the horizontal axis and the settling flux (R / kg ⁇ h -1 ) on the vertical axis.
  • FIG. 3 shows the results of plotting the concentrations of the three types of flocculants as parameters on the graph. As can be seen from FIG. 3, in each case, the settling flux increases as the slurry concentration increases up to 4% by mass, and when the slurry concentration exceeds 5% by mass, the settling flux gradually decreases. There is.
  • the settling flux is critically large with both ends in the range of the slurry concentration of 3% by mass or more and 6% by mass or less as inflection points, and the settling flux is in the range of the slurry concentration of 4% by mass or more and 5% by mass or less. Is maximal. Further, by appropriately adjusting the amount of the flocculant added to the ore in the ore slurry and the slurry concentration of the ore slurry, the settling flux can be increased to 1200 kg / h or more, which is more than double the conventional one.
  • the settling flux increases as the amount of the flocculant added increases. From the above results, when the concentration of ore particles in the ore slurry is different, the size of so-called flocs, which are agglomerates of the ore particle group formed when the flocculant is added, is also different, which affects the settling flux. It is thought that it is.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Manufacture And Refinement Of Metals (AREA)

Abstract

Provided is a method for preparing a nickel oxide ore slurry with which it is possible to wet-sift a nickel oxide ore to efficiently separate an ore slurry collected on the minus-sieve side by sedimentation.　The present invention is a method for preparing a nickel oxide ore slurry to be used as a raw material for wet-smelting of nickel by high-pressure oxygen leaching, the method including: a step in which a nickel oxide ore is wet-sifted, the nickel oxide ore being blended so that the grade of nickel or the grade of an element other than nickel is a prescribed grade; and a step in which a flocculant is added to a minus-sieve nickel oxide ore slurry that is obtained to concentrate the slurry by sedimentation separation. The sedimentation separation is performed after the slurry concentration of the minus-sieve nickel oxide ore slurry is adjusted preferably to at least 3-6% by mass.

Description

ニッケル酸化鉱石スラリーの調製方法How to prepare nickel oxide ore slurry
　本発明は、高圧酸浸出法によるニッケルの湿式製錬方法の原料に用いるニッケル酸化鉱石スラリーの調製方法に関する。 The present invention relates to a method for preparing a nickel oxide ore slurry used as a raw material for a nickel hydrometallurgical method by a high-pressure acid leaching method.
　低品位のニッケル酸化鉱石からニッケルを回収する方法として、高圧酸浸出法を用いた湿式製錬方法が知られている。この高圧酸浸出法では、該ニッケル酸化鉱石に水を加えて調製した鉱石スラリーが硫酸と共にオートクレーブと称する高圧反応容器に装入され、高温高圧下で酸浸出処理が施される。この高圧酸浸出法の原料に用いるニッケル酸化鉱石（以下、単に鉱石とも称する）は、上記酸浸出処理の効率を高めるため、前処理工程において、解砕や分級により夾雑物が除去されると共に所定の粒度まで粒径が細かくされる。上記の分級では、複数段の分級機を用いて段階的に粒径を細かくする方式が一般的に採用されており、この場合、後段の分級機にはドラムウォッシャーなどの湿式篩が用いられる。そのため、最終的に得られる鉱石粉末は、水に懸濁した状態のスラリー（以下、鉱石スラリーとも称する）として回収される。 A hydrometallurgy method using a high-pressure acid leaching method is known as a method for recovering nickel from low-grade nickel oxide ore. In this high-pressure acid leaching method, an ore slurry prepared by adding water to the nickel oxide ore is charged into a high-pressure reaction vessel called an autoclave together with sulfuric acid, and acid leaching treatment is performed under high temperature and high pressure. Nickel oxide ore (hereinafter, also simply referred to as ore) used as a raw material for this high-pressure acid leaching method is determined by removing impurities by crushing and classification in the pretreatment step in order to increase the efficiency of the acid leaching treatment. The particle size is fined down to the grain size of. In the above classification, a method of gradually reducing the particle size by using a plurality of stages of classifiers is generally adopted, and in this case, a wet sieve such as a drum washer is used for the subsequent classifiers. Therefore, the finally obtained ore powder is recovered as a slurry in a state suspended in water (hereinafter, also referred to as an ore slurry).
　上記の鉱石スラリーのスラリー濃度（すなわち、全質量に占める鉱石の質量を百分率で表したものであり、固形分濃度とも表示される）は通常は１０～２０質量％程度と低いため、これをそのまま上記の高圧反応容器に装入すると酸浸出処理が非効率になるうえ、所定の処理能力を確保するには機器のサイズを大きくする必要が生じるため不経済になってニッケルの回収率も低下する。そこで、一般的には、最後段の湿式篩の篩下側に回収されるスラリー濃度の低い鉱石スラリーは、凝集剤等の添加剤と共にシックナー（沈澱濃縮装置とも称する）に導入され、ここで固液分離により上澄液を除去することで鉱石スラリーのスラリー濃度を高めることが行われている。 The slurry concentration of the above ore slurry (that is, the mass of the ore in the total mass is expressed as a percentage and is also referred to as the solid content concentration) is usually as low as about 10 to 20% by mass, so this is used as it is. If it is placed in the above high-pressure reaction vessel, the acid leaching process becomes inefficient, and it is necessary to increase the size of the equipment to secure the specified processing capacity, which makes it uneconomical and reduces the nickel recovery rate. .. Therefore, in general, the ore slurry having a low slurry concentration recovered under the sieve of the wet sieve in the final stage is introduced into a thickener (also referred to as a precipitation concentrator) together with an additive such as a flocculant, and is solidified here. The slurry concentration of the ore slurry is increased by removing the supernatant liquid by liquid separation.
　例えば特許文献１には、高圧酸浸出法によりニッケル酸化鉱石からニッケル及びコバルトを回収する湿式製錬法において、原料のニッケル酸化鉱石を湿式で分級することで得た鉱石スラリーを沈降分離により濃縮する際、該鉱石スラリーに添加する凝集剤の添加量を鉱石に含まれるマグネシウム品位に応じて調整する技術が開示されている。具体的には、鉱石に含まれるマグネシウム品位を１.４％以上、１.１０～１.４０％の範囲内、０.９５～１.１０％の範囲内、及び０.９５％以下の４つの場合に区分し、それぞれの場合に対して鉱石１ｔ当たり凝集剤を５５ｇ以下、６０～７０ｇ、７０～８０ｇ、及び８０ｇ以上の割合で添加することで、該沈降分離により得られる濃縮スラリーのスラリー濃度を安定的に高く維持できると記載されている。 For example, in Patent Document 1, in a wet smelting method for recovering nickel and cobalt from nickel oxide ore by a high-pressure acid leaching method, the ore slurry obtained by wet-classifying the raw material nickel oxide ore is concentrated by sedimentation separation. At the same time, a technique for adjusting the amount of the flocculant to be added to the ore slurry according to the magnesium grade contained in the ore is disclosed. Specifically, the magnesium grade contained in the ore is in the range of 1.4% or more, 1.10 to 1.40%, 0.95 to 1.10%, and 0.95% or less. The slurry of the concentrated slurry obtained by the sedimentation separation is divided into two cases, and the flocculant is added at a ratio of 55 g or less, 60 to 70 g, 70 to 80 g, and 80 g or more per 1 ton of ore for each case. It is stated that the concentration can be stably maintained at a high level.
特開２０１９－４４２０８号公報Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2019-44208
　ところで、低品位のニッケル酸化鉱石に対して高温高圧下で酸浸出処理を施す高圧酸浸出法においては、上記酸浸出処理が施される鉱石スラリーに添加される硫酸の消費量や該酸浸出処理で生成される浸出液に含まれるニッケルの濃度又はニッケル以外の元素の濃度が所定の範囲内となるように、複数種類の鉱石をブレンドした原料が用いられる。この場合、シックナーに導入された鉱石スラリー内において、重力の作用で沈降により濃縮していくときの挙動（シックニングとも称する）が鉱石種ごとに異なるため、ブレンドする鉱石の種類や粒度、それらの配合比率が変動すると、沈降濃縮後にシックナーの底部から抜き出される濃縮スラリーのスラリー濃度も変動する。また、この濃縮スラリーのスラリー濃度は、シックナーの形状や大きさ、鉱石スラリーに添加する凝集剤の種類や添加量等にも依存する。 By the way, in the high-pressure acid leaching method in which an acid leaching treatment is performed on low-grade nickel oxide ore under high temperature and high pressure, the consumption amount of sulfuric acid added to the ore slurry to which the acid leaching treatment is performed and the acid leaching treatment are performed. A raw material in which a plurality of types of ores are blended is used so that the concentration of nickel contained in the leachate produced in (1) or the concentration of an element other than nickel is within a predetermined range. In this case, in the ore slurry introduced into the thickener, the behavior (also called thickening) when concentrating by sedimentation due to the action of gravity differs depending on the ore type, so the type and particle size of the ore to be blended and their When the blending ratio fluctuates, the slurry concentration of the concentrated slurry extracted from the bottom of the thickener after precipitating and concentrating also fluctuates. The slurry concentration of this concentrated slurry also depends on the shape and size of the thickener, the type and amount of the flocculant to be added to the ore slurry, and the like.
　このような状況の下、鉱石スラリー内の鉱石の沈降速度を大きくすることができれば、シックナー内の清澄水の上昇速度を速くすることができるので、該シックナーの沈降槽を上から見たときの面積を小さくすることができる。例えば、鉱石の沈降速度を２倍速くすることができれば、通常は２０ｍ程度のシックナーの直径を１４ｍ程度に小さくすることができる。これにより、シックナーの設備コスト及びその維持管理コストを大幅に削減することができる。 Under such circumstances, if the sedimentation rate of the ore in the ore slurry can be increased, the ascending rate of the clear water in the thickener can be increased. Therefore, when the sedimentation tank of the thickener is viewed from above. The area can be reduced. For example, if the sedimentation speed of the ore can be doubled, the diameter of the thickener, which is usually about 20 m, can be reduced to about 14 m. As a result, the equipment cost of the thickener and the maintenance cost thereof can be significantly reduced.
　また、シックナー内において鉱石スラリー中の鉱石の沈降速度を高めるために添加する凝集剤の添加量を減らすことができれば、当該凝集剤の消費コストを削減できるうえ、凝集剤に有機系のものを使用する場合は、その主成分である高分子炭化水素の鉱石スラリー中の濃度を減らすことができるので、鉱石スラリーの粘度が凝集剤によって上昇したり、鉱石スラリー中の炭素濃度が上昇したりする問題を防ぐことができる。 Further, if the amount of the flocculant added in order to increase the sedimentation rate of the ore in the ore slurry in the thickener can be reduced, the consumption cost of the flocculant can be reduced and an organic coagulant is used. In this case, the concentration of the polymer hydrocarbon, which is the main component thereof, in the ore slurry can be reduced, so that the viscosity of the ore slurry is increased by the flocculant and the carbon concentration in the ore slurry is increased. Can be prevented.
　本発明は上記した事情に鑑みてなされたものであり、高圧酸浸出法によるニッケルの湿式製錬方法の原料に用いるニッケル酸化鉱石の前処理工程において、湿式により該ニッケル酸化鉱石を篩分けすることで篩下側に回収される鉱石スラリーを効率よく沈降分離させることが可能なニッケル酸化鉱石スラリーの調製方法を提供することを目的にしている。 The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and in the pretreatment step of nickel oxide ore used as a raw material for a wet smelting method of nickel by a high-pressure acid leaching method, the nickel oxide ore is sieved by a wet method. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for preparing a nickel oxide ore slurry capable of efficiently sedimenting and separating the ore slurry recovered under the sieve.
　上記目的を達成するため、本発明に係るニッケル酸化鉱石スラリーの調製方法は、高圧酸浸出法によるニッケルの湿式製錬方法の原料に用いるニッケル酸化鉱石スラリーの調製方法であって、Ｎｉ品位又はＮｉ以外の元素品位が所定の品位になるようにブレンドされたニッケル酸化鉱石を湿式で篩分けする工程と、得られた篩下のニッケル酸化鉱石スラリーに凝集剤を添加して沈降分離により濃縮する工程とを有し、前記篩下のニッケル酸化鉱石スラリーのスラリー濃度を調整した後に前記沈降分離を行なうことを特徴としている。 In order to achieve the above object, the method for preparing a nickel oxide ore slurry according to the present invention is a method for preparing a nickel oxide ore slurry used as a raw material for a wet smelting method of nickel by a high-pressure acid leaching method, and has a Ni grade or Ni. A step of wet sieving nickel oxide ore blended so that the grades of elements other than the above are of a predetermined grade, and a step of adding a flocculant to the obtained nickel oxide ore slurry under the sieve and concentrating by sedimentation separation. It is characterized in that the sedimentation separation is performed after adjusting the slurry concentration of the nickel oxide ore slurry under the sieve.
　本発明によれば、湿式によりニッケル酸化鉱石を篩分けすることで篩下側に回収される鉱石スラリーを効率よく沈降分離させることができる。 According to the present invention, by sieving nickel oxide ore by a wet method, the ore slurry recovered under the sieving can be efficiently settled and separated.
本発明の実施形態のニッケル酸化鉱石スラリーの調製方法が好適に適用される湿式製錬方法の一具体例のブロックフロー図である。It is a block flow diagram of a specific example of a wet smelting method to which the method for preparing a nickel oxide ore slurry of the embodiment of the present invention is preferably applied. 図１の前処理工程Ｓ１で好適に用いられるシックナーの模式的な縦断面図である。FIG. 3 is a schematic vertical sectional view of a thickener preferably used in the pretreatment step S1 of FIG. 1. シックナーに導入した鉱石スラリーのスラリー濃度がセトリング流束に及ぼす影響を凝集剤濃度をパラメータにしてプロットしたグラフである。It is a graph which plotted the influence which the slurry concentration of the ore slurry introduced into the thickener on the settling flux with the coagulant concentration as a parameter.
　先ず、本発明の実施形態に係るニッケル酸化鉱石スラリーの調製方法が好適に適用される高圧酸浸出法によるニッケルの湿式製錬方法の一具体例について図１を参照しながら説明する。この図１に示す湿式製錬方法は、原料のニッケル酸化鉱石に対して解砕や湿式の篩分け等の前処理を行なう前処理工程Ｓ１と、上記前処理工程Ｓ１で得た鉱石スラリーに対して硫酸を添加して高温高圧下で酸浸出処理を施すことでニッケルを浸出させる浸出工程Ｓ２と、上記浸出工程Ｓ２により生成した浸出液と残渣とからなる浸出スラリーを連続する複数のシックナーに導入し、向流で流れる洗浄液で洗浄しながら残渣を分離除去することで浸出液を回収する向流多段洗浄工程Ｓ３と、上記の回収された浸出液に中和剤を添加して該浸出液に含まれる不純物元素を中和澱物として分離除去して中和終液を得る中和工程Ｓ４と、該中和終液に硫化水素等の硫化剤を添加することによりニッケルを硫化物の形態で回収する硫化工程Ｓ５と、上記硫化物の回収時に排出されるニッケル貧液に消石灰等の中和剤を添加して無害化処理を行なう最終中和工程Ｓ６とから一般的に構成される。 First, a specific example of a nickel hydrometallurgical method by a high-pressure acid leaching method to which the method for preparing a nickel oxide ore slurry according to an embodiment of the present invention is preferably applied will be described with reference to FIG. The wet smelting method shown in FIG. 1 applies to the pretreatment step S1 in which pretreatment such as crushing and wet sieving is performed on the raw material nickel oxide ore, and the ore slurry obtained in the pretreatment step S1. The leaching step S2 in which nickel is leached by adding sulfuric acid and performing acid leaching treatment under high temperature and high pressure, and the leaching slurry consisting of the leaching solution and the residue generated in the leaching step S2 are introduced into a plurality of continuous thickeners. The countercurrent multi-stage cleaning step S3 in which the leachate is recovered by separating and removing the residue while washing with the washing liquid flowing in the countercurrent, and the impurity element contained in the leachate by adding a neutralizing agent to the recovered leachate. A neutralization step S4 for obtaining a neutralized final liquid by separating and removing the above as a neutralized starch, and a sulfurization step for recovering nickel in the form of a sulfide by adding a sulfurizing agent such as hydrogen sulfide to the neutralized final liquid. It is generally composed of S5 and a final neutralization step S6 in which a neutralizing agent such as slaked lime is added to the nickel-poor liquid discharged at the time of recovery of the sulfide to perform detoxification treatment.
　上記のような高圧酸浸出法によるニッケルの湿式製錬方法の原料に使用されるニッケル酸化鉱石には、硫酸を過剰に消費するマグネシウムの品位が低く且つ安価なリモナイト（Ｌｉｍｏｎｉｔｅ）が主に用いられる。一般的にリモナイトはＮｉ品位が０.８～１.５質量％程度と低品位であるため、Ｎｉ品位又はＮｉ以外の元素であるＣｏ、Ｍｇ、Ｃｒ、Ｆｅ、Ｍｎ、Ａｌ、及びＳｉの中から選ばれる少なくとも１種の品位が所定の品位になるように、あるいはＮｉ等の回収対象となる特定の元素に対するそれ以外の特定の元素の比率が所定の値を満たすように、複数の鉱石種をブレンドすることが行われている。例えば、リモナイトを主として用い、マグネシウム品位がリモナイトに比べて高いもののニッケル品位がリモナイトに比べて約２倍程度高いサプロライト（Ｓａｐｒｏｌｉｔｅ）を上記のＮｉ品位やＮｉ以外の元素品位等の条件を満たすように混合して用いることが多い。 As the nickel oxide ore used as a raw material for the hydrometallurgical method of nickel by the high-pressure acid leaching method as described above, limonite, which is low in grade and inexpensive in magnesium that consumes excessive sulfuric acid, is mainly used. .. In general, limonite has a low Ni grade of about 0.8 to 1.5% by mass, so it is among the Ni grade or elements other than Ni such as Co, Mg, Cr, Fe, Mn, Al, and Si. Multiple ore types so that at least one grade selected from the above becomes a predetermined grade, or the ratio of other specific elements to a specific element to be recovered such as Ni satisfies a predetermined value. Is being blended. For example, using mainly limonite, saprolite, which has a higher magnesium grade than limonite but a nickel grade about twice as high as limonite, is used to satisfy the above conditions such as Ni grade and element grade other than Ni. Often mixed and used.
　上記のように複数の鉱石種がブレンドされたニッケル酸化鉱石原料は、好ましくは複数段の解砕機や分級機を使用して鉱石の粒径が所定の大きさになるように段階的に細かくされる。これら複数段の分級機のうち、少なくとも最終段では例えばバイブレーティングスクリーンやトロンメル等の湿式篩が用いられ、ニッケル酸化鉱石は水と共に分級機に装入されて篩分けが行われる。そのため、最終的にニッケル酸化鉱石は水で希釈された鉱石スラリーの状態で篩下側に回収される。この最終的に篩下側に回収される鉱石スラリーのスラリー濃度は、従来は１０～２０質量％の範囲内であり、これをそのままシックナーに導入して４０～４５質量％程度に濃縮していた。 The nickel oxide ore raw material in which a plurality of ore types are blended as described above is preferably finely divided in stages so that the particle size of the ore becomes a predetermined size by using a multi-stage crusher or classifier. Or. Of these multi-stage classifiers, at least in the final stage, a wet sieve such as a vibrating screen or trommel is used, and nickel oxide ore is charged into the classifier together with water for sieving. Therefore, the nickel oxide ore is finally recovered under the sieve in the form of an ore slurry diluted with water. The slurry concentration of the ore slurry finally recovered under the sieve was conventionally in the range of 10 to 20% by mass, and this was directly introduced into the thickener and concentrated to about 40 to 45% by mass. ..
　これに対して、本発明の実施形態のニッケル酸化鉱石の調製方法においては、上記のシックナーに導入する鉱石スラリーのスラリー濃度を好ましくは３質量％以上６質量％以下となるように、より好ましくは４質量％以上５質量％以下となるように調整する。シックナーに導入する鉱石スラリーのスラリー濃度を上記の範囲内とすることで、凝集剤と共にシックナーに導入された該鉱石スラリーが該シックナー内でシックニングする際の鉱石の沈降速度をより速めることができる。これにより、シックナーの底部から抜き出す濃縮した鉱石スラリーのスラリー濃度を、従来のままほとんど変えることなくシックナーに導入する鉱石スラリーの流量を増大させるか、あるいはシックナーの所要面積を小さくすることができる。 On the other hand, in the method for preparing nickel oxide ore according to the embodiment of the present invention, the slurry concentration of the ore slurry introduced into the above-mentioned thickener is preferably 3% by mass or more and 6% by mass or less, more preferably. Adjust so that it is 4% by mass or more and 5% by mass or less. By setting the slurry concentration of the ore slurry introduced into the thickener within the above range, the settling speed of the ore when the ore slurry introduced into the thickener together with the flocculant is thickened in the thickener can be further increased. .. As a result, the flow rate of the ore slurry introduced into the thickener can be increased or the required area of the thickener can be reduced with almost no change in the slurry concentration of the concentrated ore slurry extracted from the bottom of the thickener.
　すなわち、シックナーには上昇流型と水平流型（横流型とも称する）があり、いずれも鉱石スラリー中の鉱石の沈降速度をＶｓ［ｍ／ｈ］、シックナーに導入する鉱石スラリーの流量をＱ［ｍ３／ｈ］、シックナーの沈降槽を上から見たときの面積をＡ［ｍ２］としたとき、下記式１が満たされることが要件となるので、沈降速度Ｖｓが速くなることでシックナーに導入する鉱石スラリーの流量Ｑを増大させるか、あるいは面積Ａを小さくすることができる。
［式１］
　Ｖｓ＞Ｑ／Ａ That is, there are two types of thickeners, an ascending flow type and a horizontal flow type (also called a cross flow type). In both cases, the sedimentation velocity of the ore in the ore slurry is Vs [m / h], and the flow rate of the ore slurry to be introduced into the thickener is Q [. m 3 / h], when the area of the sinker's settling tank when viewed from above is A [m 2 ], it is a requirement that the following equation 1 is satisfied. The flow rate Q of the ore slurry to be introduced into the ore slurry can be increased or the area A can be reduced.
[Equation 1]
Vs> Q / A
　以下、図２に示す上昇流型のシックナーをとり挙げて説明する。この図２に示すシックナーは、略円錐形等の傾斜した底面を有する好ましくは略円筒形状の沈降槽１と、該沈降槽１と同芯軸状に設けられた鉱石スラリーの導入用の略円筒状のフィードウェル２と、該沈降槽１の底部に沈澱した鉱石をかき取るために底面に沿って回転するレーキ３とから一般に構成される。凝集剤は、図示しない凝集剤供給装置から上記のフィードウェル２に直接添加されるか、あるいは該フィードウェル２に先端部が接続している鉱石スラリー供給配管４を介して該フィードウェル２に添加される。 Hereinafter, the ascending flow type thickener shown in FIG. 2 will be taken up and explained. The thickener shown in FIG. 2 has a settling tank 1 having a substantially cylindrical bottom surface having an inclined bottom surface such as a substantially conical shape, and a substantially cylindrical settling tank 1 for introducing an ore slurry provided concentrically with the settling tank 1. It is generally composed of a feedwell 2 in the shape of a feed well and a rake 3 that rotates along the bottom surface to scrape the ore that has settled on the bottom of the settling tank 1. The flocculant is added directly to the feedwell 2 from a flocculant supply device (not shown), or is added to the feedwell 2 via an ore slurry supply pipe 4 having a tip connected to the feedwell 2. Will be done.
　かかる構成により、凝集剤と共にシックナー内に導入された鉱石スラリーは、シックニングにより高スラリー濃度の鉱石スラリーの状態で沈降槽１の底部に堆積する。この堆積した高スラリー濃度の鉱石スラリーは、レーキ３によって沈降槽１の底部中央にかき集められ、該底部中央から抜き出される。この抜き出された高スラリー濃度の鉱石スラリーは、スラリーポンプ５などにより次工程の浸出工程Ｓ２の装置に移送される。一方、上記シックニングにより鉱石が分離することで得られる上澄液は、沈降槽１の上端部をオーバーフローし、沈降槽１の外周部に設けられている樋部６を介して抜き出される。 With this configuration, the ore slurry introduced into the thickener together with the flocculant is deposited on the bottom of the settling tank 1 in the form of an ore slurry having a high slurry concentration by thickening. The deposited high slurry concentration ore slurry is collected by the rake 3 at the center of the bottom of the settling tank 1 and is extracted from the center of the bottom. The extracted ore slurry having a high slurry concentration is transferred to the apparatus of the leaching step S2 of the next step by a slurry pump 5 or the like. On the other hand, the supernatant obtained by separating the ore by the sizing overflows the upper end portion of the settling tank 1 and is extracted through the gutter portion 6 provided on the outer peripheral portion of the settling tank 1.
　本発明の実施形態のニッケル酸化鉱石の調製方法においては、上記のシックナーに導入される鉱石スラリーのスラリー濃度を従来よりも低い濃度に調整することで、上記シックニング時の鉱石の沈降速度が従来よりも速くなる。これにより、新規にシックナーを設計する場合は、その設置面積を従来より小さくすることができ、既設のシックナーの場合は従来よりも処理能力を高めたり、より高スラリー濃度の鉱石スラリーをシックナーの底部から抜き出したりすることができる。なお、上記シックナーに導入した鉱石スラリー中の鉱石の沈降速度を安定化させるため、目標とするスラリー濃度に対して±０.５質量％の範囲内でスラリー濃度を調整することが好ましい。 In the method for preparing nickel-oxidized ore according to the embodiment of the present invention, by adjusting the slurry concentration of the ore slurry introduced into the above-mentioned thickener to a concentration lower than the conventional one, the sedimentation rate of the ore at the time of the above-mentioned sizing is conventionally set. Will be faster than. As a result, when designing a new thickener, the installation area can be made smaller than before, and in the case of an existing thickener, the processing capacity can be increased compared to the conventional one, or an ore slurry with a higher slurry concentration can be used at the bottom of the thickener. Can be extracted from. In order to stabilize the sedimentation rate of the ore in the ore slurry introduced into the thickener, it is preferable to adjust the slurry concentration within the range of ± 0.5% by mass with respect to the target slurry concentration.
　上記のようにシックナーに導入する鉱石スラリーのスラリー濃度を従来よりも低くすることで鉱石の沈降速度を速くできる理由については明確には分からないが、鉱石スラリーのスラリー濃度を低くすることで、該鉱石スラリーに含まれる鉱石粒子群が相互に影響を及ぼしにくくなることや、鉱石スラリーの粘度が低くなることが沈降速度を速くする主な要因であると考えられる。 It is not clear why the ore sedimentation rate can be increased by lowering the slurry concentration of the ore slurry introduced into the thickener as described above, but by lowering the slurry concentration of the ore slurry, the said. It is considered that the main factors for increasing the sedimentation rate are that the ore particles contained in the ore slurry are less likely to affect each other and that the viscosity of the ore slurry is low.
　上記の前処理工程Ｓ１において鉱石スラリーに添加される凝集剤は、アニオン性の凝集剤が好ましい。また、凝集剤を鉱石スラリーに添加するときは、ハンドリングを容易にするため、凝集剤を水に希釈した状態で添加するのが好ましい。更に、凝集剤の添加量は鉱石１ｔ当たり５０ｇ以下の割合で添加するのが好ましく、３０ｇ以上４０ｇ以下の割合で添加するのがより好ましい。本発明の実施形態のニッケル酸化鉱石の調製方法は、前述したようにシックナーに導入する鉱石スラリーのスラリー濃度を低めに調整することで鉱石の沈降速度を速くするので、従来に比べて鉱石スラリーに添加する凝集剤の量をある程度削減しても、高スラリー濃度の鉱石スラリーをシックナーの底部から抜き出すことができる。 The aggregating agent added to the ore slurry in the above pretreatment step S1 is preferably an anionic aggregating agent. When the flocculant is added to the ore slurry, it is preferable to add the flocculant in a diluted state with water in order to facilitate handling. Further, the amount of the flocculant added is preferably 50 g or less per 1 ton of ore, and more preferably 30 g or more and 40 g or less. In the method for preparing nickel oxide ore according to the embodiment of the present invention, the sedimentation rate of the ore is increased by adjusting the slurry concentration of the ore slurry to be introduced into the thickener to a lower level as described above. Even if the amount of the flocculant to be added is reduced to some extent, the ore slurry having a high slurry concentration can be extracted from the bottom of the thickener.
　なお、上記したように前処理工程Ｓ１においてシックナーに導入する鉱石スラリーのスラリー濃度を所定の濃度に調整する方法としては、例えば最終段の湿式篩において、篩上側に除去される割合を考慮にいれたうえで篩下側に回収される鉱石スラリーのスラリー濃度が上記の所定の濃度になるように従来よりも多量の水を導入してもよいし、湿式篩は従来と同様の条件で運転し、最終段の湿式篩の篩下側に回収される鉱石スラリーに対して上記の所定の濃度になるように水を添加してもよい。 As described above, as a method for adjusting the slurry concentration of the ore slurry introduced into the thickener in the pretreatment step S1 to a predetermined concentration, for example, in the wet sieve of the final stage, the ratio of being removed on the upper side of the sieve is taken into consideration. After that, a larger amount of water may be introduced than before so that the concentration of the ore slurry recovered under the sieve becomes the above-mentioned predetermined concentration, and the wet sieve is operated under the same conditions as before. , Water may be added to the ore slurry recovered under the sieve of the wet sieve in the final stage so as to have the above-mentioned predetermined concentration.
　以上説明したように、本発明のニッケル酸化鉱石スラリーの調製方法によりシックナーに導入した鉱石スラリー中の鉱石の沈降速度を速くすることができ、例えば従来に比べて沈降速度を２倍以上速くすることができるので、シックナーを新設する場合は、その設備コストを抑えることができるうえ、維持管理に要するコストも削減することができる。既設のシックナーの場合は鉱石スラリーの処理能力を高めたり、シックナーの底部から抜き出される濃縮した鉱石スラリーのスラリー濃度をより高めたりすることができる。 As described above, the settling speed of the ore in the ore slurry introduced into the thickener can be increased by the method for preparing the nickel oxide ore slurry of the present invention, for example, the settling speed can be increased more than twice as fast as compared with the conventional method. Therefore, when a new slurry is installed, the equipment cost can be suppressed and the maintenance cost can be reduced. In the case of the existing thickener, the processing capacity of the ore slurry can be increased, and the slurry concentration of the concentrated ore slurry extracted from the bottom of the thickener can be further increased.
　これにより、後工程の浸出工程Ｓ２への単位時間当たりのニッケル装入量を増やすことができるので生産量を高めたり、ニッケル回収率を高めたりすることが可能になる。更に、上記鉱石スラリー中の鉱石の沈降速度が速くなることで凝集剤の添加量を低減することができるので、鉱石スラリーの粘度が低減してより一層シックニングの効率を高めることができるうえ、鉱石スラリー中の炭素濃度を低減することができる。更に、シックナー内において鉱石スラリーのスラリー濃度の変動を抑えることができるので、後工程の浸出工程Ｓ２や、硫化工程Ｓ５の制御を安定化することができ、極めて効率的に湿式製錬を行なうことができる。 As a result, the amount of nickel charged per unit time into the leaching process S2 in the subsequent process can be increased, so that the production amount can be increased and the nickel recovery rate can be increased. Further, since the sedimentation speed of the ore in the ore slurry is increased, the amount of the flocculant added can be reduced, so that the viscosity of the ore slurry can be reduced and the sickening efficiency can be further improved. The carbon concentration in the ore slurry can be reduced. Further, since the fluctuation of the slurry concentration of the ore slurry can be suppressed in the thickener, the control of the leaching step S2 and the sulfide step S5 in the subsequent step can be stabilized, and the wet smelting can be performed extremely efficiently. Can be done.
　図１に示すようなブロックフローに沿って湿式製錬方法を行なうＨＰＡＬ（Ｈｉｇｈ　Ｐｒｅｓｓｕｒｅ　Ａｃｉｄ　Ｌｅａｃｈｉｎｇ）プラントにおいて、原料として使用されている代表的なニッケル酸化鉱石であるリモナイト鉱をサンプリングし、その組成を蛍光Ｘ線分析装置により分析した。その分析結果を下記表１に示す。 Limonite ore, which is a typical nickel oxide ore used as a raw material, is sampled in an HPAL (High Pressure Acid Leaching) plant that performs a hydrometallurgical method according to the block flow as shown in FIG. It was analyzed by a fluorescent X-ray analyzer. The analysis results are shown in Table 1 below.
Figure JPOXMLDOC01-appb-T000001
Figure JPOXMLDOC01-appb-T000001
　このリモナイト鉱を解砕した後、目開き１.４ｍｍの篩で篩分けして得た篩下側を小分けし、それらにスラリー濃度２～８質量％の範囲内で１質量％ごとにそれぞれ異なるように純水を添加して試料１～７の鉱石スラリーを調製した。このようにして調製したスラリー濃度がそれぞれ異なる試料１～７の鉱石スラリーの各々に対して、更に４リッターずつ小分けしてそれらを容量４リッターの３個のメスシリンダーにそれぞれ入れると共に、凝集剤をそれぞれ濃度が異なるように添加して十分に撹拌した。撹拌後はすぐに静置させて沈降濃縮を行い、該静置を開始してから鉱石スラリー中の鉱石の重力沈降がほぼ止まるまでの時間、すなわち静置を開始した直後の、鉱石スラリー相と水相との界面のない状態から該界面の低下がほぼ停止するまでの時間を測定した。 After crushing this limonite ore, the lower side of the sieve obtained by sieving with a sieve having an opening of 1.4 mm is subdivided, and the slurry concentration is different for each 1% by mass within the range of 2 to 8% by mass. Pure water was added as described above to prepare ore slurries of Samples 1 to 7. For each of the ore slurries of Samples 1 to 7 having different slurry concentrations prepared in this manner, further subdivide them into 4 liters and put them in 3 measuring cylinders having a capacity of 4 liters, and add a flocculant. The concentrations were added so as to be different from each other, and the mixture was sufficiently stirred. Immediately after stirring, the ore is allowed to stand for sedimentation and concentration, and the time from the start of the standing until the gravitational sedimentation of the ore in the ore slurry almost stops, that is, the ore slurry phase immediately after the start of standing. The time from the state where there was no interface with the aqueous phase until the decrease of the interface almost stopped was measured.
　そして、４リッターの鉱石スラリーに含まれる鉱石の質量を上記の測定した時間で除した値で定義されるセトリング流束（Ｓｅｔｔｌｉｎｇ　Ｆｌｕｘ）Ｒを求めた。なお、凝集剤には、アニオン性凝集剤を純水で濃度調整したものを用い、各試料の鉱石スラリーを小分けした３つのメスシリンダーには、鉱石１ｔ当たり凝集剤がそれぞれ２０ｇ、３０ｇ、及び４０ｇの割合となるように添加した。 Then, the settingtling flux R defined by the value obtained by dividing the mass of the ore contained in the 4 liter ore slurry by the above-measured time was obtained. As the flocculant, an anionic flocculant whose concentration was adjusted with pure water was used, and 20 g, 30 g, and 40 g of the flocculant per ton of ore were contained in the three graduated cylinders in which the ore slurry of each sample was subdivided. Was added so as to be the ratio of.
　このようにして求めた試料１～７の鉱石スラリーのセトリング流束を、横軸を鉱石スラリーのスラリー濃度（Ｗｓ／質量％）、縦軸をセトリング流束（Ｒ／ｋｇ・ｈ－１）とするグラフに３種類の凝集剤の濃度をパラメータとしてプロットした結果を図３に示す。この図３から分かるように、いずれの場合も、スラリー濃度４質量％まではスラリー濃度の上昇と共にセトリング流束が大きくなり、スラリー濃度が５質量％を超えるとセトリング流束は徐々に低下している。特に、スラリー濃度３質量％以上６質量％以下の範囲の両端を変曲点としてセトリング流束が臨界的に大きくなっており、スラリー濃度４質量％以上５質量％以下の範囲内でセトリング流束は極大になっている。また、鉱石スラリー中の鉱石に対する凝集剤の添加量と該鉱石スラリーのスラリー濃度を適宜調整することで、セトリング流束を従来の２倍以上の１２００ｋｇ／ｈ以上にすることができる。 The settling flux of the ore slurry of the samples 1 to 7 thus obtained is defined as the slurry concentration (Ws / mass%) of the ore slurry on the horizontal axis and the settling flux (R / kg · h -1 ) on the vertical axis. FIG. 3 shows the results of plotting the concentrations of the three types of flocculants as parameters on the graph. As can be seen from FIG. 3, in each case, the settling flux increases as the slurry concentration increases up to 4% by mass, and when the slurry concentration exceeds 5% by mass, the settling flux gradually decreases. There is. In particular, the settling flux is critically large with both ends in the range of the slurry concentration of 3% by mass or more and 6% by mass or less as inflection points, and the settling flux is in the range of the slurry concentration of 4% by mass or more and 5% by mass or less. Is maximal. Further, by appropriately adjusting the amount of the flocculant added to the ore in the ore slurry and the slurry concentration of the ore slurry, the settling flux can be increased to 1200 kg / h or more, which is more than double the conventional one.
　更に、凝集剤の添加量が鉱石１ｔ当たり２０ｇ以上４０ｇ以下の範囲内では、凝集剤の添加量が多いほどセトリング流束が大きくなることが分かる。以上の結果から、鉱石スラリー中の鉱石粒子の濃度が異なると、凝集剤を添加した際に形成される鉱石粒子群の凝集塊であるいわゆるフロックの大きさも異なり、これがセトリング流束に影響を及ぼしていると考えられる。従って、鉱石スラリー中の鉱石の沈降速度を速くするには、該鉱石スラリー中の鉱石に対して添加する凝集剤の添加量の調整のみならず該鉱石スラリーのスラリー濃度の調整が有効であることが分かる。 Further, it can be seen that when the amount of the flocculant added is in the range of 20 g or more and 40 g or less per 1 ton of the ore, the settling flux increases as the amount of the flocculant added increases. From the above results, when the concentration of ore particles in the ore slurry is different, the size of so-called flocs, which are agglomerates of the ore particle group formed when the flocculant is added, is also different, which affects the settling flux. It is thought that it is. Therefore, in order to increase the sedimentation rate of the ore in the ore slurry, it is effective not only to adjust the amount of the flocculant added to the ore in the ore slurry but also to adjust the slurry concentration of the ore slurry. I understand.
　１　　沈降槽
　２　　フィードウェル
　３　　レーキ
　４　　鉱石スラリー供給配管
　５　　スラリーポンプ
　６　　樋部 1 Settlement tank 2 Feed well 3 Rake 4 Ore slurry supply piping 5 Slurry pump 6 Gutter

Claims (4)

  1. 　高圧酸浸出法によるニッケルの湿式製錬方法の原料に用いるニッケル酸化鉱石スラリーの調製方法であって、Ｎｉ品位又はＮｉ以外の元素品位が所定の品位になるようにブレンドされたニッケル酸化鉱石を湿式で篩分けする工程と、得られた篩下のニッケル酸化鉱石スラリーに凝集剤を添加して沈降分離により濃縮する工程とを有し、
    　前記篩下のニッケル酸化鉱石スラリーのスラリー濃度を調整した後に前記沈降分離を行なうことを特徴とするニッケル酸化鉱石スラリーの調製方法。     A method for preparing a nickel oxide ore slurry used as a raw material for a wet smelting method of nickel by a high-pressure acid leaching method. It has a step of sieving with and a step of adding a flocculant to the obtained nickel oxide ore slurry under the sieving and concentrating by sedimentation separation.
    A method for preparing a nickel oxide ore slurry, which comprises adjusting the slurry concentration of the nickel oxide ore slurry under the sieve and then performing the sedimentation separation.
  2. 　前記スラリー濃度の調整が、該スラリー濃度３質量％以上６質量％以下の調整であることを特徴とする、請求項１に記載のニッケル酸化鉱石スラリーの調製方法。 The method for preparing a nickel oxide ore slurry according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment of the slurry concentration is an adjustment of the slurry concentration of 3% by mass or more and 6% by mass or less.
  3. 　前記濃縮する濃縮されたニッケル酸化鉱石スラリーは、高圧反応容器に装入されて高温高圧下で硫酸により酸浸出処理が施されることを特徴とする、請求項１又は２に記載のニッケル酸化鉱石スラリーの調製方法。 The nickel oxide ore according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the concentrated nickel oxide ore slurry is charged into a high-pressure reaction vessel and subjected to acid leaching treatment with sulfuric acid under high temperature and high pressure. How to prepare the slurry.
  4. 　前記凝集剤がアニオン性であり、前記濃縮する工程において、前記ニッケル酸化鉱石１ｔ当たり前記凝集剤を５０ｇ以下の割合で添加することを特徴とする、請求項１から３のいずれか１項に記載のニッケル酸化鉱石スラリーの調製方法。 The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the flocculant is anionic and the flocculant is added at a ratio of 50 g or less per 1 ton of the nickel oxide ore in the concentration step. How to prepare nickel oxide ore slurry.
PCT/JP2021/043307 2020-12-01 2021-11-26 Method for preparing nickel oxide ore slurry WO2022118743A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2020-199263 2020-12-01
JP2020199263A JP7272342B2 (en) 2020-12-01 2020-12-01 Method for preparing nickel oxide ore slurry

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2022118743A1 true WO2022118743A1 (en) 2022-06-09

Family

ID=81853483

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/JP2021/043307 WO2022118743A1 (en) 2020-12-01 2021-11-26 Method for preparing nickel oxide ore slurry

Country Status (2)

Country Link
JP (1) JP7272342B2 (en)
WO (1) WO2022118743A1 (en)

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5223504A (en) * 1975-08-14 1977-02-22 Nickel Le Method of concentrating oxidized ore containing nickel
JPH11124640A (en) * 1997-08-06 1999-05-11 Le Nickel Sln Soc Method for decreasing amount of water included in ore mud of nickel-containing oxide ore
JP2008189999A (en) * 2007-02-06 2008-08-21 Sumitomo Metal Mining Co Ltd Pretreatment method for nickel oxidation ore
JP2019044208A (en) * 2017-08-30 2019-03-22 住友金属鉱山株式会社 Ore slurry concentration method in nickel oxide ore refining
JP2020033602A (en) * 2018-08-30 2020-03-05 住友金属鉱山株式会社 Method of manufacturing high concentration ore slurry

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5223504A (en) * 1975-08-14 1977-02-22 Nickel Le Method of concentrating oxidized ore containing nickel
JPH11124640A (en) * 1997-08-06 1999-05-11 Le Nickel Sln Soc Method for decreasing amount of water included in ore mud of nickel-containing oxide ore
JP2008189999A (en) * 2007-02-06 2008-08-21 Sumitomo Metal Mining Co Ltd Pretreatment method for nickel oxidation ore
JP2019044208A (en) * 2017-08-30 2019-03-22 住友金属鉱山株式会社 Ore slurry concentration method in nickel oxide ore refining
JP2020033602A (en) * 2018-08-30 2020-03-05 住友金属鉱山株式会社 Method of manufacturing high concentration ore slurry

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP2022087368A (en) 2022-06-13
JP7272342B2 (en) 2023-05-12

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
WO2016181673A1 (en) Mineral ore slurry pretreatment method, and method for manufacturing mineral ore slurry
JP5360243B2 (en) Thickener device in ore slurry manufacturing process and method for controlling solid component ratio
US20190060797A1 (en) Method and apparatus for liquid/solid separation such as dewatering particulate solids and agitation leaching
WO2017051578A1 (en) Gravity separation device
JP6984191B2 (en) Solid-liquid separation method of nickel high-pressure leachate residue
JP7183503B2 (en) METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING HIGH CONCENTRATION ORE SLURRY
EP2669392B1 (en) Process for production of ore slurry
JP2019044208A (en) Ore slurry concentration method in nickel oxide ore refining
WO2022118743A1 (en) Method for preparing nickel oxide ore slurry
JP7279546B2 (en) Nickel oxide ore leaching method and hydrometallurgical method including the same
WO2016136069A1 (en) Ore slurry pre-treatment method and ore slurry manufacturing method
JP7506356B2 (en) How to manage a thickener to obtain a high-concentration slurry.
JP5692313B2 (en) Thickener device in ore slurry manufacturing process and method for controlling solid component ratio
JP7155639B2 (en) Pretreatment method for nickel oxide ore raw material
JP7057900B2 (en) Pretreatment method for nickel oxide ore slurry
JP7220846B2 (en) Pretreatment method for nickel oxide ore used as raw material for hydrometallurgy
JP2023017330A (en) Nickel oxide ore pretreatment method
JP7151848B1 (en) Chromite ore recovery method
JP6750698B2 (en) Solid-liquid separation method of nickel high pressure leaching residue
JP2020076130A (en) Wet smelting method of nickel oxide ore
JP7127679B2 (en) Method for producing ore slurry, hydrometallurgical method for nickel oxide ore
JP2021046572A5 (en)
JP2023122850A (en) Solid-liquid separation method using multistage thickner and wet smelter method of nickel oxide ore containing the same
JP2023042898A (en) Method or recovering chrome iron ore
JP2025012689A (en) Method for producing nickel oxide ore slurry

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 21900497

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

DPE1 Request for preliminary examination filed after expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed from 20040101)
NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 21900497

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1