Hydrometallurgical enrichment of polymetallic and ferromanganese ore

Abstract

The article presents the results of theoretical and experimental studies of leaching of polymetallic manganese-containing and ferromanganese ore. Thermodynamic calculations and experimental studies on enrichment of manganese-containing raw materials made it possible to determine the main technological parameters of the extraction of manganese, iron and non-ferrous metals, and to develop technological schemes for enrichment of various types of manganese-containing raw materials. The studies were carried out for polymetallic and ferromanganese ores of the Kaigadat deposit, the Selezen deposit, the Sugul site, located in the Kemerovo Region – Kuzbass. Before carrying out laboratory studies, the authors have performed thermodynamic analysis of ore leaching, chemical and X-ray structural analyzes of the samples. Laboratory tests were carried out on a multichamber autoclave unit MKA-4-75 using calcium and iron chlorides as solvents. Since the introduction of a reducing agent into the charge during leaching significantly improves the conditions for dissolution of oxides and hydroxides of manganese in calcium chloride, a series of experiments was conducted with the use of charcoal in the charge. Thermodynamic calculations have shown that the leaching process is fully implemented in the temperature range from 323 to 673 K. The results of the experiments confirmed the theoretical research results. The obtained data allowed the authors to propose a technological scheme for hydrometallurgical enrichment of polymetallic and ferromanganese ores to produce high-quality concentrates. All processed products are suitable for use. The use of optimal technological parameters of enrichment allows 95–97 % of manganese, up to 80 % of nickel, up to 99 % of cobalt, and 96–98 % of iron to be extracted from polymetallic manganese-containing raw materials. As a result of the deposition of these elements, high-quality concentrates of manganese, nickel, iron, cobalt are obtained. According to the proposed technological scheme for ferromanganese raw materials with a high content of silicates, it is possible to obtain high-quality concentrates of manganese and iron, while the extraction of manganese is 90–92 %, and of iron – 86–90 %.