Improvements relating to the Treatment of Nickel and Cobalt Ores.
Year: 1894

page_text: France),
Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 7th Apr., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 1st Jan., 1895-Accepted, 6th Apr., 1895
Improvements relating to the Treatment of Nickel and Cobalt Ores.
1, PIERRE MANHES, of 3 Rue Sala, Lyon, in the Republic of France,
Metallurgical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to the treatment of nickel and cobalt ores.
The improved process for the treatment of these ores instead of taking place in
several successive operations, may be effected in a single operation, and is therefore
a very important improvement from an economical point of view.
This process is based upon two principal reactions which are:-
(1) The elimination of the iron by the oxidation of this metal and the dissolution
of the oxide of iron formed in special basic or alkaline fluxes which cause it to pass
in the state of fluid scoria or dross at a sufficiently high temperature; these fluxes
are the various salts of soda, potash, aluminium, the borates and the like; in
practice I prefer to employ natural borate of lime or boracite, but it will be clearly
understood that use may be made of any basic or alkaline substance susceptible of
dissolving oxide of iron and forming with it, at a high temperature, a fluid
scoria;
(2) The elimination of the sulphur by the employment of certain special reagents,
likewise basic or alkaline, mixed with chlorides of the same nature, such as lime,
baryta, magnesia, soda, potash, to which are added chlorides of calcium, lime,
barium, magnesium, sodium, potassium and the like; in practice I employ by
preference a mixture of lime and chloride of lime, it being however understood that
any other substances, capable of producing the same chemical effects may
be used.
I operate upon the matt produced by the rough fusion of the ore, which matt is
formed either by the sulphur contained in the ore itself or by the sulphur added by
means of sulphurating materials in the case of oxidized ores. It should here be
observed that in the case of oxidized ores I may apply my process to the treatment
of the product from the rough fusion of these ores without previous sulphuration,
the product of this first fusion of the ore being in this case not a matt but molten
mass of nickel and iron, that is to say, a mixture of metallic uickel and iron more or
less carburated. In fact, in the treatment of this molten mass the reactions to be
obtained are the same as for the treatment of the matt with this sole difference that
I have not to employ the reagents designed for the elimination of the sulphur, but
only those designed for the elimination of the iron.
The treatment of the matt or of the molten mass is effected in the well-known
apparatus called in metallurgy by the name of converter ; I may employ either the
ordinary Bessemer converter or a fixed or movable converter of any other kind, but

page_text: prefer to use the movable converter known by the name of Manhes converter and
employed in the metallurgy of copper.
For the sake of simplicity I will hereinafter refer only to nickel, it being
expressly understood that the whole applies also to the treatment of cobalt ores.
Having thus explained the principles upon which my invention is based I will
now summarily describe a metallurgical operation, taking as an example the
treatment of a matt produced by the fusion of a naturally sulphurous or artificially
sulphurated ore, which matt contains as its chief constituents iron, sulphur and
nickel; I suppose the operation to take place in a Manhes converter the lining of
which, as already stated, must be made of basic materials, such as lime, magnesia,
dolomite or the like, for an acid lining would not resist the action of the fluxes
employed and would not permit of the necessary reactions being obtained.
The molten matt is passed directly from the melting furnace into the converter,
and when the latter has received its charge of matt I commence the blowing which
rapidly raises the temperature. A portion of the sulphur is eliminated in the state
of sulphurous acid, while the iron is rapidly oxidized, but under the energetic
oxidizing action produced by the passage of air into the mass in fusion the oxide of
iron formed would be almost immediately transformed into peroxide which would
remain in the solid or pasty state and cause projections rendering the continuation
of the operation impossible. It is then that the special reagents or fluxes intervene
to which I have before referred and which have for their object to dissolve the
oxide of iron in proportion as it is produced and to keep it in the state of fluid
scoria or dross. For this purpose the said reagents have been added in the
converter after the introduction of the matt and before the commencement of the
blowing. It has already been stated that in practice I preferably employ natural
borate of lime or boracite, but that I may also use any other substance capable of
producing a similar reaction. When the iron has been almost totally oxidized,
which it is easy to recognise by the appearance of the flame, I stop the blowing aud
det out the scoria produced. Then I add the second series of reagents, that is to
say, those designed for the elimination of the sulphur, by preference in practice the
mixture of lime and chloride of lime, whereupon the blowing is recommenced.
The remaining sulphur combines very rapidly with these reagents to form alkaline
or basic sulphides and there remains finally in the converter commercially pure
nickel which in its turn is run into suitable ingot moulds.
If, in lieu of a sulphurous matt, I treat molten nickel which still contains much
iron, but scarcely any sulphur the operation is the same except that it is stopped at
the moment when the scoria produced by the dissolution of the oxide of iron has
been run out, for at this moment there remains only commercially pure nickel in the
converter.
It will be understood that I do not limit the scope of my said invention exactly
to the preceding description, but reserve expressly the right to make any
modifications therein which experience may show to be necessary.
Dated this 7th day of April 1894.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Treatment of Nickel and Cobalt Ores.
I, PIERRE MANHES, Metallurgical Engineer, of 3 Rue Sala, Lyon, in the
Republic of France, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained,
in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to the treatment of nickel and cobalt ores.

page_text: The improved process for the treatment of these ores is based, in part at least,
upon the reactions already described in the Specification of a former application
No. 6914 filed on the 6th day of April 1894, nevertheless it constitutes an absolutely
new and altogether distinct industrial process in this sense that instead of taking
place in several successive operations it enables the treatment of nickel and cobalt
ores and the production of these commercially pure metals to be effected in a single
operation, and is therefore a very important improvement from an economical
point of view.
This process is based upon two principal reactions which are
(1) The elimination of the iron by the oxidation of this metal and the
dissolution of the oxide of iron formed in special basic or alkaline fluxes which
cause it to pass in the state of fluid scoria or dross at a sufficiently high temperature;
these fluxes are the various salts of soda, potash, aluminium, the borates and the
like; in practice I prefer to employ natural borate of lime or boracite, but it will
be clearly understood that use may be made of any basic or alkaline substance
susceptible of dissolving oxide of iron and forming with it, at a high temperature,
a fluid scoria ;.
(2) The elimination of the sulphur by the employment of certain special
reagents, likewise basic or alkaline, mixed with chlorides of the same nature, such
as lime, baryta, magnesia, soda, potash, to which are added chlorides of calcium,
lime, barium, magnesium, sodium, potassium and the like; in practice I employ by
preference a mixture of lime and chloride of lime, it being however understood that
any other substances, capable of producing the same chemical effects may be used.
I operate upon the matt produced by the rough fusion of the ore, which matt is
formed either by the sulphur contained in the ore itself or by the sulphur added by
means of sulphurating materials in the case of oxidized ores. It should here be
observed that in the case of oxidized ores I may apply my process to the treatment
of the product from the rough fusion of these ores without previous sulphuration,
the product of this first fusion of the ore being in this case not a matt but molten
mass of nickel and iron, that is to say, a mixture of metallic nickel and iron more
or less carburated. In fact, in the treatment of this molten mass the reactions to
be obtained are the same as for the treatment of the matt with this sole difference
that I have not to employ the reagents designed for the elimination of the sulphur,
but only those designed for the elimination of the iron.
The treatment of the matt or of the molten mass is effected in the well-known
apparatus called in metallurgy by the name of converter; I may employ either the
ordinary Bessemer converter or a fixed or movable converter of any other kind,
but prefer to use the movable converter known by the name of Manhes converter
and employed in the metallurgy of copper.
For the sake of simplicity I will hereinafter refer only to nickel, it being
expressly understood that the whole applies also to the treatment of cobalt ores.
Having thus explained the principles upon which my invention is based I will
now summarily describe a metallurgical operation, taking as an example the
treatment of a matt produced by the fusion of a naturally sulphurous or artificially
sulphurated ore, which matt contains as its chief constituents iron, sulphur and
nickel; I suppose the operation to take place in a Manhes converter the lining of
which, as already stated, must be made of basic materials, such as lime, magnesia,
dolomite or the like, for an acid lining would not resist the action of the fluxes
employed and would not permit of the necessary reactions being obtained.
The molten matt is passed directly from the melting furnace into the converter,
and when the latter has received its charge of matt I commence the blowing which
rapidly raises the temperature. A portion of the sulphur is eliminated in the state
of sulphurous acid, while the iron is rapidly oxidized, but under the energetic
oxidizing action produced by the passage of air into the mass in fusion the oxide of
iron formed would be almost immediately transformed into peroxide which would
remain in the solid or pasty state and cause splashing rendering the continuation of
the operation impossible. It is then that the special reagents or fluxes intervene to

page_text: which I have before referred and which have for their object to dissolve the oxide
of iron in proportion as it is produced and to keep it in the state of fluid scoria or
dross. For this purpose the said reagents have been added in the converter after
the introduction of the matt and before the commencement of the blowing. It has
already been stated that in practice I preferably employ natural borate of lime or
horacite, but that I may also use any other substance capable of producing a similar
reaction. When the iron has been almost totally oxidized, which it is easy to
recognize by the appearance of the flame, I stop the blowing and let out the scoria
produced. Then I add the second series of reagents, that is to say, those designed
for the elimination of the sulphur, by preference in practice the mixture of lime
and chloride of lime, whereupon the blowing is recommenced. The remaining
sulphur combines very rapidly with these reagents to form alkaline or basic
sulphides and there remains finally in the converter commercially pure nickel which
in its turn is run into suitable ingot moulds.
If in lieu of a sulphurous matt I treat molten nickel which still contains much
iron, but scarcely any sulphur the operation is the same except that it is stopped at
the moment when the scoria produced by the dissolution of the oxide of iron has
been run out, for at this moment there remains only commercially pure nickel in
the converter.
As to the proportions of the reagents to be employed for obtaining the complete
desulphuration of the materials treated it is impossible to indicate the same in a
precise manner, these proportions depending, even for an equal proportion of
sulphur, on various circumstances such as the temperature of the apparatus, the
greater or smaller division of the materials, the degree of purity of the reagents
employed and the like.
By way of example however I may indicate the following: I commence by
employing for 1 part of sulphur contained in the materials under treatment 5 parts
of one of the basic or alkaline reagents indicated above, lime, soda, potash and the
like and 1 part of one of the chlorides likewise above stated, I allow these reagents
to act, following the progress of the desulphuration by means of samples taken in
the metallurgical bath; if it appears necessary I augment by addition the quantity
of reagents employed, and I proceed with the casting of the metal when the
examination of the samples shows me that the desulphuration is complete.
It will be understood that the quantities of reagents which I have mentioned
above are indicated only by way of example, that I do not limit my invention to
these proportions, but I reserve on the contrary the right of employing such
quantities of these reagents as experience may show me to be useful or necessary.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
First. The process of treating sulphurous matts of nickel in a couverter having
a basic lining, the iron and sulphur being successively eliminated by the employ-
ment of the various reagents specified in the preceding description or of any other
analogous reagents, substantially as and for the purposes herein before set forth.
Second. The process of treating non-sulphurous or very little sulphurous molten
nickel in a converter having a basic lining, the iron being eliminated in the state of
fluid scoria by the employment of the special reagents specified in the preceding
description or of any other analogous reagents, substantially as and for the
purposes herein before set forth.
D
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co..
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.