Extracción sinérgica de elementos de valor desde una muestra de relave
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2019
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es
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Universidad Andrés Bello
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Licencia CC
Licencia CC
Resumen
El cobalto se encuentra en la naturaleza en bajas concentraciones y unido a otros metales y minerales; gracias a sus propiedades fisicoquímicas, es un "habilitador de tecnología". El 53% es usado para fabricar baterías recargables de automóviles eléctricos/híbridos y dispositivos electrónicos portátiles; en tecnologías de producción de energía alternativa como paneles solares, pilas de combustible y turbinas eólicas; además contribuye a la reducción de las emisiones con efecto invernadero. Debido a estas atribuciones, la demanda de cobalto aumentó drásticamente en 2018; desde 2014 es considerada una materia prima crítica por su riesgo de suministro e importancia económica para la Comisión Europea. En las aplicaciones mencionadas, los aparatos son constituidos por conjunto de elementos de valor (Co, Ni, Cu, Li, Mn, Mg, etc.).
Debido a la necesidad de encontrar recursos por cobalto y otros metales, se estudia relaves chilenos, que al 2018 constituyen 10.600 millones de toneladas; organismos nacionales/privados estudiaron la diversidad de elementos constituyentes de relaves, siendo atractivos económicamente. Esto da inicio al estudio de factibilidad técnica para extracción de elementos de valor desde una muestra de relave proveniente de flotación de sulfuros de cobre (Minera Altos de Punitaqui). Para ello, se investigan procesos para extraer cobalto y otros elementos en paralelo. Se diseña un proceso de tostación que transforma los elementos a fases de fácil disolución, seguida de una lixiviación de sulfatos de Co, Ni y Cu, donde se probó alta solubilidad de Mg y Mn. Las mejores condiciones, implican solubilidad de 70% de Co, 62% Ni, 85% Mg, 80% Cu y Mn, que presentaron pérdida desde PLS por evaporación y filtración; 30% de Co fue recuperado en el sólido remanente de lixiviación, donde se retuvo también 72 y 98% de Fe y Ca, respectivamente. En la experiencia, se consideró una emisión despreciable de SO2 y factible para remoción de metales desde relave (promedio 75%). Se recomienda mitigar las pérdidas que bajan recuperación, recircular PLS para lixiviar otra carga fresca y abrir el estudio de purificación del PLS.
Cobalt is found in nature in low concentrations, and linked with other metals and minerals; its physicochemical properties make this metal a “technology enabler”. 53% of the cobalt production is used to manufacture semiconductors, rechargeable electric/hybrid car batteries and portable electronic devices; In alternative energy production technologies such as solar panels, fuel cells and wind turbines; and also contributes to the reduction of greenhouse-gas emissions. Due to these factors, the cobalt demand increased drastically in 2018; since 2014 is considered a critical raw material for its risk of supply and economic importance for the European Commission. In the list of uses mentioned, the devices are constituted by set of valuable elements (Co, Ni, Cu, Li, Mn, Mg, etc.). Due to the need of finding new sources of cobalt and other metals, Chilean tailings are investigated, which at 2018 constituted a mass of 10.600 Million tons. National and private institutions studied the diversity of constituent elements of the deposit, being in many cases economically attractive. This begins the technical feasibility study in the extraction of valuable elements from a sample of tailings from the flotation process of copper sulphides (Minera Altos de Punitaqui). Metallurgical processes are investigated for cobalt, nickel and copper extraction in parallel. A roasting process is designed to transform the elements to phases that can be easily dissolved. This stage is followed by a hydrometallurgical extraction of Co, Ni and Cu sulphates, where there is high solubility of Mg and Mn. Best process conditions have dissolved 70% of Co, 62% of Ni, 85% of Mg and 80% of Cu and Mn, however, a percentage was lost from PLS due to evaporation and filtration; 30% of Co was recovered in the leaching mud, where 72% and 98% of Fe and Ca, was retained, respectively. From the investigation, a negligible SO2 emission was obtained, which is auspicious for the metals removal from tailings (75%, approximately). It is recommended to mitigate the loss that lower the recovery, recirculate PLS to leach another feed, and open the study to PLS purification.
Cobalt is found in nature in low concentrations, and linked with other metals and minerals; its physicochemical properties make this metal a “technology enabler”. 53% of the cobalt production is used to manufacture semiconductors, rechargeable electric/hybrid car batteries and portable electronic devices; In alternative energy production technologies such as solar panels, fuel cells and wind turbines; and also contributes to the reduction of greenhouse-gas emissions. Due to these factors, the cobalt demand increased drastically in 2018; since 2014 is considered a critical raw material for its risk of supply and economic importance for the European Commission. In the list of uses mentioned, the devices are constituted by set of valuable elements (Co, Ni, Cu, Li, Mn, Mg, etc.). Due to the need of finding new sources of cobalt and other metals, Chilean tailings are investigated, which at 2018 constituted a mass of 10.600 Million tons. National and private institutions studied the diversity of constituent elements of the deposit, being in many cases economically attractive. This begins the technical feasibility study in the extraction of valuable elements from a sample of tailings from the flotation process of copper sulphides (Minera Altos de Punitaqui). Metallurgical processes are investigated for cobalt, nickel and copper extraction in parallel. A roasting process is designed to transform the elements to phases that can be easily dissolved. This stage is followed by a hydrometallurgical extraction of Co, Ni and Cu sulphates, where there is high solubility of Mg and Mn. Best process conditions have dissolved 70% of Co, 62% of Ni, 85% of Mg and 80% of Cu and Mn, however, a percentage was lost from PLS due to evaporation and filtration; 30% of Co was recovered in the leaching mud, where 72% and 98% of Fe and Ca, was retained, respectively. From the investigation, a negligible SO2 emission was obtained, which is auspicious for the metals removal from tailings (75%, approximately). It is recommended to mitigate the loss that lower the recovery, recirculate PLS to leach another feed, and open the study to PLS purification.
Notas
Tesis (Ingeniero Civil en Metalurgia)
Palabras clave
Relaves Mineros, Análisis, Cobalto