Improved Method of Extracting Nickel and Cobalt from Ores or Compounds and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left. 2nd Aug.. 1889-Accepted, 7th Sept., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by PIERRE MANHES, of 1, Rue Childebert, Lyon, in
the Republic of France, Engineer and Metallurgist.]
Improved Method of Extracting Nickel and Cobalt from Ores or
Compounds and Apparatus therefor.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:→
The process hereinafter described which forms the subject of the present application
has for its object the treatment of nickel and cobalt ores in a simple rapid and
economical manner it can be applied to any ores of these metals whatever may be their
composition, to mattes resulting from the fusion of sulphurated ores as well as to
product resulting from the fusion of oxidized ores.
The present process is based upon the successive elemination by oxidation, of all the
materials having more affinity for oxygen than nickel and cobalt.
The apparatus employed is that known under the general name of converter and I
reserve the right to employ all or any of the various constructions of this apparatus
which have been devised.
It has been proved by experience that in order to effect the operation under
favourable conditions and to keep the metal fluid towards the end of the operation it is
expedient that the air should enter the converter at a certain height above the bottom
of the apparatus, or, better still, that a special arrangement be provided which enables
the air to enter at a certain height which can be varied at will.
I employ by preference the converter which it is only necessary to incline more or
less in order to allow the air to enter the said converter at a higher or lower level.
I will now describe the course of an operation, which description will enable the
whole of the process, which is carried out without any previous roasting being
necessary to be understood, the ores, whatever their nature may be are melted in any
furnace, preferably a blast-furnace, for concentrating the metallic elements in the
matte, if sulphurated ores are treated, and in the ingots or impure crude metal if
oxidized ores are treated, it is the product of this melting, either matte or casting,
which is received directly in the converter. This apparatus inust have been previously
heated to a red heat in order that the material, when it arrives therein, can be kept
liquid during the short space of time necessary for the introduction of the air. În
fact, to pour the melted materials from the melting furnace into the converter the
latter is inclined so as to place it almost horizontal, then when it has received its
charge the air is let in and the apparatus is gradually moved back to the vertical
position so that the air arrives through the bottom of the converter and traverses the
entire metallic mass. The intra-molecular combustion of the sulphur, iron, and any
of the other materials which are more oxidable than nickel and cobalt, rapidly causes
great elevation of temperature, the sulphur is eliminated in the state of sulphurous
acid whilst the iron, under the action of an energetic oxidation, is transformed into
silicate at the expense of the earth or bricks which form the inner lining of the
converter.
The course of the operation is followed and these various phases are readily observed
by examining the flames, either by means of a spectroscope or with the naked eye.
I have stated above that at the beginning of the operation the aparatus must be quite.
vertical so that the air arrives through the bottom in fact at this moment the
combustible elements are abundant and the operation does not present any difficulty:
but in proportion as the iron and sulphur which are the principal combustible elements
disappear, the temperature tends to get lower and it is then necessary to successively
incline the apparatus in order to allow air to arrive at a higher level.

page_text: By reason of this arrangement the richest parts of the material, the metallic nickel
and cobalt, in proportion as they are formed collect at the bottom below the line where
the air arrives owing to their greater density: from this results two advantages, that
of not oxidizing the metals which are to be preserved, and that of maintaining a
higher temperature, because the air is always caused to arrive in that part of the
materials in fusion which contains most combustible elements.
Despite this however, and owing to the elevated temperature which the nickel and
cobalt require to maintain them in a state of fusion it is well to let in the converter
a small quantity of coke or wood charcoal which, floating upon the materials in fusion
will not counteract the oxidation, but the combustion of which powerfully aids in
maintaining the high temperature necessary, especially towards the end of the
operation.
As I have above explained the course of the operation is followed by examining the
flame, and when the nickel and cobalt have become nearly pure, which is very readily
recognized by the examination, the casting is effected by turning over the converter,
the contents of which are poured into ingot-moulds prepared for this purpose.
The sides of the converter being impregnated with foreign substances, it is
impossible to obtain by this treatment an entirely pure metal, and the nickel produced
is in the proportion of from 97 to 98 per cent., it is therefore only necessary to subject
it to a suitable refining treatment.
I wish it understood that I reserve the right to make in these processes such
modifications as experience may suggest.
Dated this 29th day of November 1888.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method of Extracting Nickel and Cobalt from Ores or
Compounds and Apparatus therefor.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 :-
The process hereinafter described which forms the subject of the present application
has for its object the treatment of nickel and cobalt ores in a simple, rapid and
economical manner, it can be applied to any ores of the metals whatever may be their
composition, to mattes resulting from the fusion of sulphurated ores as well as to
products resulting from the fusion of oxidized ores.
The present process is based upon the successive elimination by oxidation, of all
the materials having more affinity for oxygen than nickel and cobalt.
The apparatus employed is that known under the general name of converter and I
reserve the right to employ all or any of the various constructions of this apparatus
which have been devised.
It has been proved by experience that in order to effect the operation under
favourable conditions and to keep the metal fluid towards the end of the operation it
is expedient that the air should enter the converter at a certain height above the
bottom of the apparatus, or, better still, that a special arrangement be provided which
enables the air to enter at a certain height which can be varied at will.
I employ by preference a converter, which it is only necessary to incline more or
less in order to allow the air to enter the said converter at a higher or lower level.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the converter.
Figure 2 is an end elevation of the same, and
Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 show the various positions of the converter in the various
periods of the treatment.

page_text: A indicates a sheet-metal casing forming the body of the furnace, B the lining of
bricks or refractory earths of variable composition. C the air-box in which the air
arrives from the general pipe through the medium of jointed metal pipes enabling the
displacement of the said air-box in the movement of the cylinder upon its horizontal
axis. These pipes can be replaced by a flexible pipe of copper or india-rubber.
D, D indicates the exterior orifices of the air-box each of which orifices is arranged
in front and in the prolongation of the tuyeres, which permits their operation to be
observed during the whole time of the said operations, and enabling them to be always
kept open; these orifices may be closed by wood or metal plugs. EE are tuyeres
passing through the interior lining and conveying the fluids injected at a certain
inclination to the mass in fusion.
F indicates the admission for the flames of any independent fire-place in which
either coke, coal or gas is burnt. G is the outlet for the flames or product of
combustion passing to the chimney and passing if necessary through condensing
chambers. His the central orifice serving for the introduction of the material to be
treated; and for the discharge of the cinder and finished products.
I, I are hooks serving to remove the upper part of the furnace to permit of repairs
to the lining. J J are rollers upon which the furnace oscillates. KK are half-rings
fixed to the cylinder and rolling upon the said rollers, L indicates a toothed sector
fixed upon the cylinder for causing it to oscillate. M is a pinion actuating the
sector L. Na crank keyed upon the shaft of the pinion M and serving to turn the
same. O is a frame carrying bearing P P', rollers JJ, and resting upon the axles of
two pairs of wheels RR which enable the furnace to be displaced in the works.
SS are toothed wheels fixed upon the aforesaid wheels RR and operated by two
pinions. TT are double cranks keyed at a right angle and operating the toothed
wheels of the wheels R R through the medium of the above mentioned pinions.
U is a sheet-metal reservoir containing the pulverulent materials injected in order
to facilitate the reactions and preserve the lining of the furnace. V is a pipe conveying
the pressure of the reservoir for the compressed fluids. ✗ indicates a cock for turning
on or off the said pressure, Z is a rod for opening or closing the outlet orifice for the
pulverulent materials. W is a plug for the introduction of the powder and Y a cock
for turning on or off the pressure.
I will now describe the course of an operation, which description will enable the
whole of the process, which is carried out without any previous roasting being
necessary, to be understood; the ores, whatever their nature may be, are melted in
any furnace, preferably a blast-furnace, for concentrating the metallic elements in the
matte, if sulphurated ores are treated, and in the ingots or impure crude metal if
oxidized ores are treated. It is the product of this melting either matte or casting, which
is received directly in the converter. This apparatus must have been previously
heated to a red heat in order that the material, when it arrives therein, can be kept
liquid during the short space of time necessary for the introduction of the air. In
fact to pour the melted materials from the melting furnace into the converter the latter
is inclined so as to place it almost horizontal, then when it has received its charge the
air is Jet in and the apparatus is gradually moved back to the vertical position so that
the air arrives through the bottom of the converter and traverses the entire metallic
mass. The intra-molecular conibustion of the sulphur, iron, and any of the other
materials which are more oxidizable than nickel and cobalt, rapidly causes great
elevation of temperature; the sulphur is eliminated in the state of sulphurous acid,
whilst the iron, under the action of an energetic oxidation, is transforined into silicate
at the expense of the earth or bricks which form the inner lining of the converter.
The course of the operation is followed, and these various phases are readily observed
by examining the flames, either by means of a spectroscope or with the naked eye. I
have stated above that at the beginning of the operation the apparatus must be quite
vertical so that the air arrives through the bottom; in fact, at this moment the
combustible elements are abundant and the operation does not present any difficulty ;
but in proportion as the iron and sulphur which are the principal combustible

page_text: elements, disappear, the temperature tends to get lower and it is then necessary to
successively incline the apparatus in order to allow air to arrive at a higher level.
By reason of this arrangement the richest parts of the material, the metallic nickel
and cobalt, in proportion as they are formed collect at the bottom below the line where
the air arrives owing to their greater density; from this results two advantages that
of not oxidizing the metals which are to be preserved, and that of maintaining a
higher temperature, because the air is always caused to arrive in that part of the
materials in fusion which contains most combustible elements.
Despite this however, and owing to the elevated temperature which the nickel and
cobalt require to maintain them in a state of fusion it is well to let in the converter a
small quantity of coke or wood charcoal which, floating upon the materials in fusion,
will not counteract the oxidation, but the combustion of which powerfully aids in
maintaining the high temperature necessary, especially towards the end of the
operation.
As I have above explained, the course of the operation is followed by examining the
flame, and when the nickel and cobalt have become nearly pure, which is very readily
recognized by the examination, the casting is effected by turning over the converter,
the contents of which are poured into ingot-moulds prepared for this purpose.
The sides of the converter being impregnated with foreign substances, it is impossible
to obtain by this treatment an entirely pure metal, and the nickel produced is in the
proportion of from 97 to 98 per cent. it is therefore only necessary to subject it to a
suitable refining treatment.
I wish it understood that I reserve the right to make in these processes such
modifications as experience may suggest.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
First. The treatment of nickel and cobalt ores by the method hereinbefore
described.
Second. The application, to the metallurgy of these metals, of a converter with
special arrangements enabling the height at which the air enters the interior of the
converter to be varied at will.
1000
Dated to
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.