Abstract
To capture efficiently the valuable trace metals from nickel slag using electric furnace, it is important to study their distributions between the slag and metallic phases in the furnace. It is impossible to calculate accurately these distributions without experimental measurements. Therefore, in this work, selected trace metal distributions and phase equilibria between K2O containing iron-silicate slags and a metallic Ni-Fe-Cu alloy in nickel slag cleaning furnace conditions were studied. The experimental method developed and applied during the work, involved a modified quenching technique that included equilibration of the samples in semi-sealed quartz ampoules in an inert atmosphere and metallic Fe saturation. The use of the semi-sealed quartz ampoule prevents the escape of volatile elements from the sample during equilibration. Chemical compositions of the phases and the trace elements were analysed by EPMA. From the measured compositions, the trace metal distribution coefficients between the molten Ni-Fe-Cu alloy and slag were calculated.
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Boliden Harjavalta and CMEco project of Tekes for the financial support of this project. Mr. Lassi Pakkanen and the Finnish Geological Survey are acknowledged for the EPMA measurements.
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© 2018 The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society
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Hellstén, N., Taskinen, P., Johto, H., Jokilaakso, A. (2018). Trace Metal Distributions in Nickel Slag Cleaning. In: Davis, B., et al. Extraction 2018. The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95022-8_30
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95022-8_30
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