1878 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) system-equipped
Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) apparatus, the sur-
face composition and micromorphology of the sample were
determined.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
Characterization of the Rougher Flotation Tailings
The elemental composition was analyzed and computed in
Table 3. Ni and Cu concentrations were 1.29% and 0.30%,
respectively, with impurities consisting primarily of alumi-
num (Al), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), and magnesium. Zinc
(Zn) was found in trace levels. The mineralogical composi-
tion was determined using the XRD, and the primary miner-
als (as displayed in Figure. 2) are bytownite (Ca(Al2Si2O8)),
calcite (CaCO3), dolomite (CaMg(CO3)2), magnetite
(Fe3O4), olivine ((Fe, Ni)2SiO4), pyrrhotite (Fe7S8), and
quartz (SiO2). The powder diffraction analysis indicated
that nickel and copper are mainly hosted in the sulfides,
notably, chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) and pentlandite (Ni9S8).
Table 2. The layout of the experimental design
Standard order Run
Grind Time,
mins
Catalyst Dosage,
wt.%
H
2 SO
4 Concentration,
M
Leaching Time,
h
Leaching
Temp., °C
5 1 0 0 1.0 4 20
26 2 5 15 0.5 8 80
22 3 5 15 1.0 8 50
27 4 5 15 0.5 8 50
8 5 10 30 1.0 4 20
10 6 10 0 0.0 12 80
13 7 0 0 1.0 12 80
32 8 5 15 0.5 8 50
4 9 10 30 0.0 4 80
31 10 5 15 0.5 8 50
21 11 5 15 0.0 8 50
20 12 5 30 0.5 8 50
23 13 5 15 0.5 4 50
29 14 5 15 0.5 8 50
16 15 10 30 1.0 12 80
15 16 0 30 1.0 12 20
18 17 10 15 0.5 8 50
24 18 5 15 0.5 12 50
9 19 0 0 0.0 12 20
25 20 5 15 0.5 8 20
12 21 10 30 0.0 12 20
14 22 10 0 1.0 12 20
6 23 10 0 1.0 4 80
3 24 0 30 0.0 4 20
30 25 5 15 0.5 8 50
17 26 0 15 0.5 8 50
1 27 0 0 0.0 4 80
2 28 10 0 0.0 4 20
7 29 0 30 1.0 4 80
28 30 5 15 0.5 8 50
19 31 5 0 0.5 8 50
11 32 0 30 0.0 12 80
Table 3. The chemical analysis of the feed sample determined by ICP-OES
Element Ni Cu Al Ca Fe Mg Zn
Content (%)1.29 0.30 0.87 0.78 14.66 10.37 0.04
Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) system-equipped
Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) apparatus, the sur-
face composition and micromorphology of the sample were
determined.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
Characterization of the Rougher Flotation Tailings
The elemental composition was analyzed and computed in
Table 3. Ni and Cu concentrations were 1.29% and 0.30%,
respectively, with impurities consisting primarily of alumi-
num (Al), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), and magnesium. Zinc
(Zn) was found in trace levels. The mineralogical composi-
tion was determined using the XRD, and the primary miner-
als (as displayed in Figure. 2) are bytownite (Ca(Al2Si2O8)),
calcite (CaCO3), dolomite (CaMg(CO3)2), magnetite
(Fe3O4), olivine ((Fe, Ni)2SiO4), pyrrhotite (Fe7S8), and
quartz (SiO2). The powder diffraction analysis indicated
that nickel and copper are mainly hosted in the sulfides,
notably, chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) and pentlandite (Ni9S8).
Table 2. The layout of the experimental design
Standard order Run
Grind Time,
mins
Catalyst Dosage,
wt.%
H
2 SO
4 Concentration,
M
Leaching Time,
h
Leaching
Temp., °C
5 1 0 0 1.0 4 20
26 2 5 15 0.5 8 80
22 3 5 15 1.0 8 50
27 4 5 15 0.5 8 50
8 5 10 30 1.0 4 20
10 6 10 0 0.0 12 80
13 7 0 0 1.0 12 80
32 8 5 15 0.5 8 50
4 9 10 30 0.0 4 80
31 10 5 15 0.5 8 50
21 11 5 15 0.0 8 50
20 12 5 30 0.5 8 50
23 13 5 15 0.5 4 50
29 14 5 15 0.5 8 50
16 15 10 30 1.0 12 80
15 16 0 30 1.0 12 20
18 17 10 15 0.5 8 50
24 18 5 15 0.5 12 50
9 19 0 0 0.0 12 20
25 20 5 15 0.5 8 20
12 21 10 30 0.0 12 20
14 22 10 0 1.0 12 20
6 23 10 0 1.0 4 80
3 24 0 30 0.0 4 20
30 25 5 15 0.5 8 50
17 26 0 15 0.5 8 50
1 27 0 0 0.0 4 80
2 28 10 0 0.0 4 20
7 29 0 30 1.0 4 80
28 30 5 15 0.5 8 50
19 31 5 0 0.5 8 50
11 32 0 30 0.0 12 80
Table 3. The chemical analysis of the feed sample determined by ICP-OES
Element Ni Cu Al Ca Fe Mg Zn
Content (%)1.29 0.30 0.87 0.78 14.66 10.37 0.04