Nichromet Extraction Inc.

NICHROMET EXTRACTION INC.

Propuesta Medio Ambiental
Para el Tratamiento de las
Colas de Las Lagunas

17 de Enero 2003
Nichromet Extraction Inc.

The Nichromet Process

for
Gold and Silver Extraction

Santo Domingo, RD
January 17, 2003
 General flow diagram
Nichromet Extraction Inc.

First step : Sulfur disposal

Ore Controlled Oxidized

Oxidation Ore

Gypsum

Second step : Gold and Silver recovery

Oxidized Chloridation Au/Ag

Ore

Third step : Base metal recovery

Barren pH control Cu, Zn, Pb,

solution Ni, Co, Hg
 Metals recovered by halogen treatment
Nichromet Extraction Inc.

First step : Sulfur removal

Lean air Flue

7

1 2 3 4 8 5
Polymetallic Oxidation SO2
Sulfide 10% O2 Cold settling Scrubbing Limestone
Ore slurry

H2

2 6’ 6’

Air/Fuel As2O3, Hg Dewatering Water tank

Dusts

- + 6 H2O
13 10
Electrolytic Oxidized Gypsum
Cell Ore
 The chemistry of sulfur removal
Nichromet Extraction Inc.

400-600oC
MS = + O2 (10%) SO2 + MOX

SO2 + H2O + CaCO3 CaSO3 + CO2 + H2O

CaSO3 + ½O2 + 2H2O CaSO4 · 2H2O

Gypsum

M= Fe, Ni, Co, Cu, Zn, Pb, As, Hg

 Metals recovered by halogens treatment
Nichromet Extraction Inc.

Second step : Gold and Silver recovery

11 12 10
Brine Reactor Oxidized
o
300g/l NaCl 35-45 C Ore
1-3g/l NaBr

2
- +
13 14 18 Barren
Electrolytic Separation Carbon solution
H2 Cell of phases columns (to 21)

Cl2/Br2
19
Solids Stripping
Rinsings
Brine then H2O H2O

17 Sterile 16 20
Evaporation H2O Solids Au, Ag
FeAsO4
 The chemistry of gold extraction
Nichromet Extraction Inc.

2Au + 3Br2 2 AuBr3

2 AuBr3 + 3Cl2 2AuCl3 + 3Br2

Cl - Cl2 Eo : -1.359 V
Br- Br2 Eo : -1.070 V

Cl2 + H2O HCl + HOCl

HOCl HCl + ½ O2

AuCl3(NaCl) x + C ( cementation) C(Au)

AgCl(NaCl) x + C ( cementation) C(Ag)
 The electrolytic cell
Nichromet Extraction Inc.

NaCl/ NaBr solution

Cathode - + Anode
(nickel) (carbon)

H2
Fuel

Porous diaphragme
NaOH 1% solution Cl2/Br2 1% solution
 Metals recovery by halogens treatment
Nichromet Extraction Inc.

Third step : Recovery of base metals

11 21 25
Brine Barren First pH Second pH
300g/l NaCl Solution adjustment adjustment
1-3g/l NaBr from 18 3-4 8-10

13 - + 22 26
Separation Separation
Electrolytic of of
Cell phases phases

15 23 27
Solids Solids
Caustic tank Rinsings Rinsings H2O
H2O Brine then H2O

17 24 28
Oxides/ Oxides
Evaporation H2O Hydroxides of Cu, Zn, Pb
Fe, Al, Ti, Cr, Mn Ni, Co, Hg
 The chemistry of base metals recovery
Nichromet Extraction Inc.

NaOH
Barren solution (pH < 1) pH 3-4

FeCl3 + 3NaOH Fe(OH)3 + 3NaCl

NaOH
Barren solution (pH 3-4) pH 8-10

ZnCl2 + 2NaOH 2NaCl + Zn(OH)2

 The chemistry of Arsenic disposal
Nichromet Extraction Inc.

Ore Oxydation Settling As2O3

As +3 + Cl2 As +5

Fe +2 + Cl2 Fe +3

As +5 + Fe +3 FeAsO4
Ferric arsenate
 Pueblo Viejo tailings lixiviate
Nichromet Extraction Inc.

Iron removal and zinc recovery

NaCl

- + air CaCO3 Lixiviate

pH 1.8-2.0
Electrolytic cell Cl2

NaOH
Solution

pH 7.0 pH 4.0

Settling pond

Filter Zn(OH)2 solid CaSO4 + Fe(OH)3

H2O pH 7.0
Clean wate
 Main Features of Nichromet Technology
Nichromet Extraction Inc.

1. Safe and economical disposal of sulfur by a well-proven and widely practiced

technique that can be obtained with guaranteed performances from engineering
firms such as Marsulex or Bechtel. Disposal of SO2 as practiced in smelting
operations by Boliden and Falconbridge.

2. Very fast reaction rate, with contact times of 2 to 3 hours with most materials
and very high recovery of precious and base metals.

3. No adverse effects from the presence of base metals (Cu, Zn, Pb).

4. Very low capital cost because of operations at atmospheric pressure and near
room temperature.

5. Minimal environmental impacts because of reagent recycling.

6. Safe disposal of arsenic.

7. Inert tailings because of sulfur removal and base metals recovery.

8. Production of gold at US$100.00/oz or less, taking base metals credits into

account.

9. Proven with refractory tailings. Should be better with fresh ore.

 Sulfur disposal: previous methods
Nichromet Extraction Inc.

a) No treatment

Thio. Ferro.
Sulfides Acid drainage

Suffield Copper Mines, Canada 1860

b) Roasting

Excess
Sulfides SO2
Air

Sudbury, Canada

c) Sulfuric acid production

Excess Air
Sulfides SO2 H2SO4
Air catalyst,
Water
Noranda, Canada

d) Jarosite
pressure
Sulfides Jarosite FeSO4.nH2O
oxidation

e) Cell burial

membrane
Sulfides cell burial
clay
 Sulfur disposal: The state of the art approach
Nichromet Extraction Inc.

− Who need it

Commodity companies
In the USA : 50% of electricity
From coal (0.1 – 5% S)
Oil (0.1 – 5% S)

− Who developed it

In the USA : DOE

EPA
Engineering firms

− Who uses it

Power companies
Mining (smelters)

− The technique

Marsulex Process

− The approach adopted by

Nichromet : Marsulex
 Sulfur disposal: The Marsulex Process
Nichromet Extraction Inc.
Nichromet Extraction Inc.
Reception of the ore
Nichromet Extraction Inc.
Grinding circuit
Nichromet Extraction Inc.
Sulfur oxidization
Nichromet Extraction Inc.
Chloridation circuit
Nichromet Extraction Inc.
Gold recovery circuit
 Operating costs
Nichromet Extraction Inc.

Operating Cost
Description $ per tonne
Labor (mill) 0.30
Mining & transport 0.50
Processing 5.43
Recovery of precious metals 0.70
Laboratory & grade control 0.25
Administration 1.00
Refining of gold 0.11
Tailings disposal 1.50
Lixiviate treatment (previous operation) 0.50
Total 10.29
 Processing costs (in US$)
Nichromet Extraction Inc.

Energy for sulfur removal (fuel) .......................1.00

Limestone for sulfur removal ...........................1.25
Electrical power for sulfur removal ..................0.15
Energy for chlorine production.........................2.18
Mechanical energy for chloridation ..................0.38
Salt………… ...................................................0.02
Reserve (10%)..................................................0.45
TOTAL .....................................................5.43
Nichromet Extraction Inc.
Pilot Plant: Year 1
Nichromet Extraction Inc.
Year 2
Nichromet Extraction Inc.
Years 3-5
Nichromet Extraction Inc.
Year 6
Nichromet Extraction Inc.
Summary
 Financial Highlights
Nichromet Extraction Inc.

Value
Valueof ofproduction
production $276,523,107
$276,523,107
Cost
Costof ofproduction
production $125,202,000
$125,202,000
Profit
ProfitMargin
Margin $151,321,108
$151,321,108
Capital
CapitalCost
Cost $50,800,000
$50,800,000
Taxes
Taxes $37,752,342
$37,752,342
 Pilot
Pilot plant
plant for
for Hydro-Québec
Hydro-Québec
High
High temperature
temperature destruction
destruction of
of PCB
Nichromet Extraction Inc.
PCB
 Pilot plant - mobile units
Nichromet Extraction Inc.
 Pilot plant - mobile units
Nichromet Extraction Inc.
 Pilot plant - mobile units
Nichromet Extraction Inc.
 Pilot plant - mobile units
Nichromet Extraction Inc.
 Pilot plant - mobile units
Nichromet Extraction Inc.
 Serpentine treatment (St-Rémi)
Nichromet Extraction Inc.

The Nichromet Process

Nickel recovery from serpentine
Magnetic
concentrate (10%)
Ore
Grinding Non-Magnetic (90%) Acid HCl
Mag. Separation digestion

CALCINED 550oC FILTRATION Solid waste

NaCl solution Neutralisation to Solution pH 0.1

pH 3-4
Microsoft Word
Document MgCl2, FeCl2,
- + NiCl2, CoCl2
Cl2
Electrolytical cell Treatment with Cl2
for Fe removal
Fe++ Fe+++
FILTRATION Solid waste and MgO
Fe2O3

NaOH (NH4)2S Nickel sulfide

H2O precipitation

FILTRATION Ni/Co sulfides part of MgCl2 MgO

(solid) precipitation

MgCl2 MgCl2 MgCl2

(solution) cristalisation