PJSC Uralmashplant, Yekaterinburg, Russia

А. V. Ivanov, Engineer-Technologist, Directorate of Design Developments, e-mail: ivanovAntV@outlook.com

JSC Kola MMC, Monchegorsk, Russia

V. L. Dubrovsky, Chief Specialist of the Scientific and Technical Development Department, e-mail: DubrovskiyVL@kolagmk.ru

LLC HAZEMAG ALLMINERAL, Shchyolkovo, Russia

А. V. Lebedok, General Director, e-mail: lebedok@allmineral.ru

JSC NIUIF, Saint-Petersburg, Russia

А. А. Klemyatov, Chief Specialist of the Complex Department, e-mail: AKlemyatov@phosagro.ru

As part of research and testing, the non-standard task of reducing the sulfur content in the white matte metal phase after magnetic separation while minimizing the loss of precious metals was solved. The product under study is represented by two main components: the metal phase itself and sulfides. The first component has a high density and malleability, while the second component has brittleness and the ability to adsorb organic aggregates on the surface. The metal component is ductile, and, at first glance, this negative factor has been rationally used in the classification by size. Two fractions are removed from the grinding unit: +100 microns and –100 microns. The coarse fraction contains a small amount of sulfur and does not need further purification, while the fine fraction is enriched in sulfides. For the purification of the fine fraction, flotation using reactor-separator type machines has been chosen, the design features of which prevent the accumulation of heavy metal particles in the chamber. The high density of the metal phase causes its accumulation in the lower part of the chambers of traditional flotation machines, therefore, the use of a reactor-separator type unit has turned out to be optimal. Its design prevents the material from settling, and small bubbles effectively float hydrophobic sulfides. Two consecutive units make it possible to obtain froth product close to copper concentrate, and a chamber product close to nickel. With the froth product, less than 4% of Pt and Pd transfers from the pre-grinding feed, which ensures effective precious metals extraction from white matte. The principal possibility of achieving the regulatory targets of the TRMSU (Technical Re-equipment of the Magnetic Separation Unit) project has been confirmed: extraction of 95% into a finished product with a sulfur content of 4.5%.

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