Structural Economic Assessment of Polymetallic Nodules Mining Project with Updates to Present Market Conditions

This paper presents the economic structure, assumptions, and relations of deep-sea mining project assessment and the results of its evaluation, based on exploration activities and research in the field of geology, mining technology, processing technology, and environmental and legislative studies. The Interoceanmetal Joint Organization (IOM) and cooperating organizations conducted a study incorporating those elements of the project that are recognized as most important for commercial viability. On the basis of formulated financial flow of operating and capital expenses of one processing technology the possible market unit price of polymetallic nodules was estimated and the result is presented in this paper. The rapidly changing economic situation, affected inter alia by the COVID-19 pandemic, is reflected in the study and updated results are based on recent changes in metal prices. Although assumptions related to mining costs need to be confirmed during pilot mining tests, promising results have been shown in the case of the use of high-pressure acid leaching processing technology (HPAL) as well as in the case of raw ore sales. A pre-feasibility study of the project will focus on the two most promising variants of the model.

Research on High-Pressure Hydrochloric Acid Leaching of Scandium, Aluminum and Other Valuable Components from the Non-Magnetic Tailings Obtained from Red Mud after Iron Removal

Red mud is a hazardous waste of the alumina industry that contains high amounts of iron, aluminum, titanium and rare-earth elements (REEs). One of the promising methods for the extraction of iron from red mud is carbothermic reduction with the addition of sodium salts. This research focuses on the process of hydrochloric high-pressure acid leaching using 10 to 20% HCl of two samples of non-magnetic tailings obtained by 60 min carbothermic roasting of red mud at 1300 °C and the mixture of 84.6 wt.% of red mud and 15.4 wt.% Na2SO4 at 1150 °C, respectively, with subsequent magnetic separation of metallic iron. The influence of temperature, leaching duration, solid-to-liquid-ratio and acid concentration on the dissolution behavior of Al, Ti, Mg, Ca, Si, Fe, Na, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sc, Zr was studied. Based on the investigation of the obtained residues, a mechanism for passing valuable elements into the solution was proposed. It has shown that 90% Al, 91% Sc and above 80% of other REEs can be dissolved under optimal conditions; Ti can be extracted into the solution or the residue depending on the leaching temperature and acid concentration. Based on the research results, novel flowsheets for red mud treatment were developed.

Research on High-Pressure Hydrochloric Acid Leaching of Scandium, Aluminium and Other Valuable Components from the Non-Magnetic Residues Obtained from Red Mud after Iron Removal

Red mud is a hazardous waste of alumina industry that contains high amounts of iron, aluminum, titanium and REEs. One of the promising methods for the extraction of iron from red mud is car-bothermic reduction with the addition of sodium salts. This research focuses on the process of hy-drochloric high-pressure acid leaching using 10–20% HCl of two samples of non-magnetic tailings obtained by 60-minute carbothermic roasting of red mud at 1300 °C and the mixture of 84.6 wt. % of red mud and 15.4 wt. % Na2SO4 at 1150 °C, respectively, with subsequent magnetic separation of metallic iron. An influence of temperature, leaching duration, solid-to-liquid-ratio and acid con-centration on dissolution behavior of Al, Ti, Mg, Ca, Si, Fe, Na, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sc, Zr were studied. Based on the investigation of the obtained residues, mechanism of passing of valuable elements into the solution was proposed. It has shown that 90% Al, 91% Sc and above 80% of other REEs can be dissolved under optimal conditions; Ti can be extracted into the solution or the residue depending on the leaching temperature and acid concentration. Based on the research results, novel flowsheets for red mud treatment were developed.

Selective Flotation of Elemental Sulfur from Pressure Acid Leaching Residue of Zinc Sulfide

An efficient flotation process was developed to selectively recover elemental sulfur from a high-sulfur pressure acid leaching residue of zinc sulfide concentrate. The process mineralogy analysis showed that the sulfur content reached 46.21%, and 81.97% of the sulfur existed as elemental sulfur which was the major mineral in the residue and primarily existed as pellet aggregate and biconical euhedral crystal. An elemental sulfur concentrate product with 99.9% of recovery and 83.46% of purity was obtained using the flotation process of one-time blank rougher, two-time agent-added roughers, and two-time cleaners with Z-200 as collector and Na2S + ZnSO4 + Na2SO3 as depressant. The flotation experiment using return water indicated that the cycle use of return water had no adverse effect on the flotation performance of elemental sulfur. The process mineralogy analysis manifested that main minerals in the residue directionally went into the flotation products. Most of elemental sulfur entered the concentrate while other minerals almost completely went into the tailing. Main valuable elements lead, zinc, and silver entered the tailing with sulfides and could be recovered by lead smelting. The proposed process can realize the comprehensive recovery of valuable components in the high-sulfur residue and thus it has wide industrial application prospect.

Pengaruh Suhu dan Konsentrasi terhadap Proses Pemisahan Nikel dari Logam Pengotor Menggunakan Metode Leaching

Abstrak Nikel merupakan unsur logam yang penggunaannya sudah dikenal dalam industri, terutama pada pelapisan logam dan paduan. Pengolahan nikel dari bijih nikel laterit (jenis Limonit) menggunakan proses hidrometalurgi Atmospheric Pressure Acid Leaching (APAL) yang dinilai lebih ekonomis karena pemakaian energi dan biaya operasional cukup rendah. Media pelarut yang digunakan berupa larutan asam sulfat (H2SO4). Sebelum dilakukan pengolahan, karakterisasi bijih dilakukan menggunakan X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), X-Ray Flourscence (XRF), dan Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Metode penelitian yang dilakukan yaitu literature review. Hasil review dari beberapa artikel jurnal menunjukkan bahwa kadar nikel yang terkandung pada suatu bijih sekitar 1,42%, 2,94 dan 0,95% serta sisanya adalah pengotor. Kondisi operasi yang tepat akan menghasilkan pemurnian nikel yang cukup tinggi. Parameter kondisi operasi yang dapat memengaruhi proses pemisahan nikel diantaranya suhu operasi yang ditunjukan dengan semakin meningkatnya % ekstraksi nikel seiring dengan kenaikan suhu. Selain suhu operasi, konsentrasi pelarut juga salah satu parameter yang mempengaruhi % ekstraksi karena semakin tinggi ion H+ akan memudahkan proses pelarutan sehingga akan mengikat Nikel Oksida yang terdapat pada bijih. Suhu paling optimal untuk menghasilkan nikel dengan kemurnian tinggi dalam operasi pelindian atmosferik adalah 90°C dan konsentrasi asam sulfat 5 M. Kata Kunci: Nikel, pelindian, suhu, konsentrasi Abstract Nickel is a metal element whose use is well known in industry, especially in metal and alloy plating. The processing of nickel from laterite nickel ore (Limonite type) uses a hydrometallurgical process of Atmospheric Pressure Acid Leaching (APAL) which is considered more economical because energy consumption and operational costs are quite low. The solvent medium used is a solution of sulfuric acid (H2SO4). Prior to processing, ore characterization was carried out using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), X-Ray Flourscence (XRF), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The research method literature review article. The results of reviews from several journal articles show that the nickel content contained in an ore is around 1.42%, 2.94% and 0.95% and the rest is impurity. The right operating conditions will result in relatively high nickel refining. The operating condition parameters that can affect the nickel separation process include the operating temperature which is indicated by the increasing % nickel extraction along with the increase in temperature. In addition to operating temperature, solvent concentration is also one of the parameters that affects the% extraction because the higher the H+ ion will facilitate the dissolving process so that it will bind to the Nickel Oxide contained in the ore. The optimal temperature to produce high-purity nickel in atmospheric leaching operations is 90°C and a sulfuric acid concentration of 5 M. Keywords: Nickel, leaching, temperature, concentration

Function of Interface Deposition of Calcium Sulfate in Pressure Acid Leaching of Black Shale-Hosted Vanadium

During pressure acid leaching process of black shale-hosted vanadium, increasing the reaction interface of muscovite dissolution can enhance the vanadium release. In this paper, calcium sulfate (CaSO4) deposition behavior and its effect on muscovite under K2SO4 assistance were focused on for demonstrating the function of CaSO4 on vanadium leaching from the black shale. Results showed that as K2SO4 mediated, the apparent activation energy of vanadium leaching and the apparent reaction order of sulfuric acid decreased from 24.37 kJ/mol to 16.63 kJ/mol and 2.7 to 1.9, respectively. The leaching rate and dependence on pH value were modified. The vanadium leaching acceleration owed to CaSO4 deposition on muscovite in the black shale. The ion absorption stimulations found that Ca2+ is confirmed to be easily absorbed on the six-membered ring cavity of silicon-oxygen tetrahedrons in muscovite structure prior to K+ and Na+. Meanwhile, SO42− provides two oxygen atoms to bond with Ca2+ absorbed on muscovite (001) surface. The continuous absorption and bonding create CaSO4 deposition on muscovite (001) surface which also involves the load transmitting. The stress load transmitting correlates to pore formation in muscovite particles. It was proved that massive micropores initiated and proliferated in the existing pores under K2SO4 assistance. The porosity caused by CaSO4 deposition greatly increased the reaction interface of muscovite dissolution and accelerate internal diffusion of H+ to the reaction interface, which can significantly weaken the vanadium leaching dependence on acid.

Review of the past, present, and future of the hydrometallurgical production of nickel and cobalt from lateritic ores

Laterite ores are becoming the most important global source of nickel and cobalt. Pyrometallurgical processing of the laterites is still a dominant technology, but the share of nickel and cobalt produced by the application of various hydrometallurgical technologies is increasing. Hydrometallurgy is a less energy-demanding process, resulting in lower operational costs and environmental impacts. This review covers past technologies for hydrometallurgical processing of nickel and cobalt (Caron), current technologies (high-pressure acid leaching, atmospheric leaching, heap leaching), developing technologies (Direct nickel, Neomet) as well as prospective biotechnologies (Ferredox process).