Nonoxidative Leaching of Non-ferrous Metals from Wastes of Kola Mining by Sulphuric Acid
Anton Svetlov1, Dmitry Makarov1, Vladimir Vigdergauz1
Citation : Anton Svetlov, Dmitry Makarov, Vladimir Vigdergauz, Nonoxidative Leaching of Non-ferrous Metals from Wastes of Kola Mining by Sulphuric Acid International Journal of Mining Science 2015, 1(1) : 17-24
Dressing tailings and metallurgical slags, while being a major source of non-ferrous metals, pose a serious environmental hazard if unprocessed. In this study, the leaching kinetics of copper and nickel from lowgrade wastes of Kola Mining was investigated. Leaching experiments were conducted in sulfuric acid electrolyte at a room temperature. The output solutions were analyzed using the atom-absorption spectrometry and the solid phase was analyzed using X-ray diffraction. The dynamics of metal leaching in the experiment show that heap leaching is quite advantageous when re-extracting metals from pelletized copper-nickel ore dressing tailings of current production, or of lean additional concentrate of tailings flotation. Taking into account the availability of excess sulphuric acid turned out by the "Kola MMC" JSC enterprises, sulphatization of pellets, where H2SO4 acts as a binder in tailing pelletizing, is recommended.