Hydrometallurgical extraction of platinum group metals from a low-grade ore concentrate

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dc.contributor.advisorPetersen, Jochenen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorMwase, James Malumboen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2014-10-30T13:51:27Z
dc.date.available2014-10-30T13:51:27Z
dc.date.issued2009en_ZA
dc.descriptionIncludes bibliographical references (leaves 143-153).en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThe aim of this study is to investigate the economic and technical feasibility of processing platinum group metals (PGMs) and base metals (BMs) from a low-grade ore concentrate produced in the concentrator plant at Lonmin Pic. The PGMs of particular interest are platinum, palladium, ruthenium and rhodium, while the BMs of interest are copper and nickel. The ore concentrate, as a by-product, represents only 5 % of the total PGM value but as much as 70 % of the total tonnage of material processed in the concentrator plant. Further upgrading this material is not considered a viable route. However, even this low PGM content in the concentrate material accumulates to appreciable value on an annual basis motivating the need to develop alternative methods of extracting value from it. Initial estimates indicate that extraction levels of at least 50 % of the PGMs and 50 % of the BMs would need to be achieved, using low cost hydrometallurgical processes, to make the venture economically viable. These methods would exclude treatment via the smelter and pressure leaching: which are costly. energy intensive and result in leaching of large quantities of non-valuable elements. Previous studies revealed that organic acids had the potential to economically extract the PGMs under alkaline conditions, and BMs under acidic conditions, from various ores and concentrate materials. A literature survey confirmed that certain organic acids can be used to leach metals from ores and concentrates via chemical complexation. It further revealed that other chemical agents. namely cyanide, thiosulphate and bisulphide, were similarly capable of strongly complexing PGMs under various conditions of pH and temperature. The survey also revealed industrially established methods for extracting BMs from low-grade ores and concentrates. Based on this material, this study experimentally evaluated these options with the intent to propose a flowsheet to treat the concentrate material. This was conducted in two phases of experimental work.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationMwase, J. M. (2009). <i>Hydrometallurgical extraction of platinum group metals from a low-grade ore concentrate</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment ,Department of Chemical Engineering. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/8966en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationMwase, James Malumbo. <i>"Hydrometallurgical extraction of platinum group metals from a low-grade ore concentrate."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment ,Department of Chemical Engineering, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/8966en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationMwase, J. 2009. Hydrometallurgical extraction of platinum group metals from a low-grade ore concentrate. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.risTY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Mwase, James Malumbo AB - The aim of this study is to investigate the economic and technical feasibility of processing platinum group metals (PGMs) and base metals (BMs) from a low-grade ore concentrate produced in the concentrator plant at Lonmin Pic. The PGMs of particular interest are platinum, palladium, ruthenium and rhodium, while the BMs of interest are copper and nickel. The ore concentrate, as a by-product, represents only 5 % of the total PGM value but as much as 70 % of the total tonnage of material processed in the concentrator plant. Further upgrading this material is not considered a viable route. However, even this low PGM content in the concentrate material accumulates to appreciable value on an annual basis motivating the need to develop alternative methods of extracting value from it. Initial estimates indicate that extraction levels of at least 50 % of the PGMs and 50 % of the BMs would need to be achieved, using low cost hydrometallurgical processes, to make the venture economically viable. These methods would exclude treatment via the smelter and pressure leaching: which are costly. energy intensive and result in leaching of large quantities of non-valuable elements. Previous studies revealed that organic acids had the potential to economically extract the PGMs under alkaline conditions, and BMs under acidic conditions, from various ores and concentrate materials. A literature survey confirmed that certain organic acids can be used to leach metals from ores and concentrates via chemical complexation. It further revealed that other chemical agents. namely cyanide, thiosulphate and bisulphide, were similarly capable of strongly complexing PGMs under various conditions of pH and temperature. The survey also revealed industrially established methods for extracting BMs from low-grade ores and concentrates. Based on this material, this study experimentally evaluated these options with the intent to propose a flowsheet to treat the concentrate material. This was conducted in two phases of experimental work. DA - 2009 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2009 T1 - Hydrometallurgical extraction of platinum group metals from a low-grade ore concentrate TI - Hydrometallurgical extraction of platinum group metals from a low-grade ore concentrate UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/8966 ER -en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/8966
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationMwase JM. Hydrometallurgical extraction of platinum group metals from a low-grade ore concentrate. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment ,Department of Chemical Engineering, 2009 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/8966en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentCentre for Bioprocess Engineering Researchen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherBioprocess Engineeringen_ZA
dc.titleHydrometallurgical extraction of platinum group metals from a low-grade ore concentrateen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMScen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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