Determination of organic impurities in cobalt production solutions using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry has been used for the analysis of cobalt production solutions by JSC “Kola MMC”. The presence of some new organic impurities in the circulating extractant was established and their influence on the physicochemical properties of the extractant has been determined. The paper considers reasons for the appearance of esters and chlorine derivatives impurities in solutions.

HYDROMETALLURGICAL NICKEL AND COBALT PRODUCTION FROM LATERITIC ORES: OPTIMIZATION AND COMPARISON OF ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE LEACHING AND PUG-ROAST-LEACHING PROCESSES

Corresponding to the technological developments, production and consumption of nickel have increased greatly over time due to its unique mechanical and chemical properties. Therefore, the production of nickel will always keep its importance. The availability of laterite ores, which are oxide type ores, is 86% of the nickel reserves on the Earth, and the processes used in the production of nickel from sulfide type ores have negative environmental effects. Therefore, recovery of nickel from lateritic ores has become increasingly important in recent years. In this study, the aim was to determine the optimum parameters of nickel and cobalt production from limonite type lateritic nickel ores, which were taken from Manisa Caldag region of Turkey, using atmospheric pressure sulfuric acid leaching and pug-roast-leach process. When the results obtained in these processes were compared, it was found that the Ni leaching efficiency is nearly 8% higher and iron leaching efficiency (contamination) is nearly 4% lower in the pug-roast-leach process. Furthermore, the pug-roast-leach process was completed in 33% lower time compared to the atmospheric pressure sulfuric acid leaching process.

Vale S.A.: Cobalt Streaming

ABSTRACT The case “Vale S.A. — Cobalt Streaming” describes a transaction that has taken place at Vale, a Brazilian mining company, and one of the most important in its segment. The transaction was developed to de-risk an important project for an expansion of a mine in the province of Newfoundland & Labrador in Canada. By streaming the cobalt production, Vale was able to get a competitive internal rate of return for the project compared to the lower level of risk the project would then offer. The case detailed the negotiation since the beginning until the company faced the challenge of choosing from the final proposals. The case allows the discussion of important aspects regarding project valuation: risk mitigation through the streaming negotiation, several different types of risk influencing the main issue of the case, decisions about the assumptions used, discussion about debt/equity characteristics on the overall project from Vale’s perspectives, and the evaluation of a project with non-conventional cash flow, given a substantial upfront revenue due to the streaming contract. So, the case is recommended for the disciplines of Financial Management, Project Valuation, or Risk Analysis in post-graduate courses of Business Administration and Finance.

The Arsenic Disposal from Cobalt Production Wastes

The study results of complex technology for arsenic extraction from dumps, which consist of such process steps as sludge soda roasting, water leaching and precipitation of arsenic sulfide from the solution are presented. The testing on unit of waste hydrochemical recycling is conducted. The technological cheme for recycling Tuvacobalt combine was proposed. The results showed that under optimal calcination and leaching conditions the arsenic content decreases from 3 wt.% in the starting material to 0.3 wt.% in the cake, and the degree of arsenic extraction into the solution rises to 92 %. According to the developed technology, products were obtained: arsenic sulfide, silicon dioxide and leaching cake.

Economics of Child Mining Labor: Estimation of Corporation’s Profits

This article estimates the contribution of child labor to the production of mined minerals and calculates the profit made by manufacturers involved in the supply chains of child- labor minerals. Several thousands of children in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) work in the artisanal and small-scale mines under dangerous conditions to extract a variety of minerals, including those used in the fabrication of modern electronics. But there is no detailed data on the scope of productivity of child-miners, the value of their production at the world market, and the profit made by those buying and using their minerals. The lack of data on this issue is occasioned by the quasi-secrecy surrounding the supply chains of child-labor minerals. The paper uses a simple method of estimation based on economic assumptions and available data to calculate the contribution of child-miners in the DRC to the cobalt production at the national and international level, and to estimate the profit made by electronic manufacturers that use cobalt tainted with child-labor in their products.