THE DISTRIBUTION OF MINOR ELEMENTS IN NICKEL MATTE SMELTING

The behaviour of several minor elements under nickel and nickel-copper smelting conditions was investigated for both homogeneous and alloy-saturated matte compositions. Distribution coefficients between matte and iron silicate slags were determined by equilibration at 1523 K under a flowing gas stream, with P;For most minor elements, higher distributions are realized in nickel smelting compared with copper. In both cases, recoveries of copper and nickel are higher when these are present as major, rather than minor elements. Oxide additives to silica-saturated slags usually diminish metal solubilities by the increase of activity coefficients of dissolved species, replacement of FeO, or suppression of sulphur dissolution.;Cobalt distribution under 0.1 bar SO;Gold distribution is explained by a monatomic dissolution model, giving a maximum solubility of 43.5 ppm Au in 15% Al;Distribution coefficients of different elements, defined by (% X in matte / % X in slag), span 6 orders of magnitude. At 40% Ni matte grade, in equilibrium with pure, silica-saturated slag, the experimentally-determined sequence of distribution ratios is, in descending order: Au, Ni, Se, Cu, Sb, Co, Pb, Mo, Cr, Mn.;Under reducing smelting conditions, Co, Mo, and Ni accumulate much more strongly in matte than under 0.01-0.1 bar SO...