EP1235942A1 - Nickel powder desulfurisation - Google Patents
Nickel powder desulfurisationInfo
- Publication number
- EP1235942A1 EP1235942A1 EP00972449A EP00972449A EP1235942A1 EP 1235942 A1 EP1235942 A1 EP 1235942A1 EP 00972449 A EP00972449 A EP 00972449A EP 00972449 A EP00972449 A EP 00972449A EP 1235942 A1 EP1235942 A1 EP 1235942A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- nickel powder
- desulfurising
- hydrogen
- agent
- gas
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
- C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
- C22B9/00—General processes of refining or remelting of metals; Apparatus for electroslag or arc remelting of metals
- C22B9/16—Remelting metals
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
- C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
- C22B23/00—Obtaining nickel or cobalt
- C22B23/06—Refining
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
- C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
- C22B5/00—General methods of reducing to metals
- C22B5/02—Dry methods smelting of sulfides or formation of mattes
- C22B5/12—Dry methods smelting of sulfides or formation of mattes by gases
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a process and apparatus for desulfurisation of nickel powder and relates particularly to the use of a desulfurisation agent for the removal of hydrogen sulfide gas produced on heating the nickel powder in a hydrogen containing atmosphere.
- Kwinana Nickel Refinery (KNR) nickel powder is produced in accordance with the Sherritt Gordon Process and pressed into briquettes for sale.
- the dried nickel powder currently discharges from the wet metals plant at KNR into storage tanks before being fed into briquette making machines.
- Current refinery operation averages 0.029% sulfur in washed nickel powder.
- Traces of ammonium sulfate, ammonium sulfamate, nickel sulfate and other sulfur compounds which remain after washing the powder contribute to residual levels of sulfur in the briquettes. This residual sulfur is removed by reduction with hydrogen at high temperature.
- the briquetted nickel powder is processed through sinter furnaces to produce a final product of ⁇ 0.008% sulfur.
- Hydrogen is used to reduce sulfur compounds in the briquettes to hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) without loss of nickel metal or product purity.
- the stoichiometric requirement of hydrogen for removal of sulfur from the briquettes constitutes less than 1% of total furnace hydrogen usage. Excess hydrogen is incinerated. The efficiency of hydrogen utilisation is thus poor.
- up to 25% of briquettes are off-specification (high S content) and must therefore be recycled through the furnace. It is believed that H 2 S diffusion is inhibited through the compacted briquettes thus further diminishing the effectiveness of the process.
- the present invention was developed with a view to providing a process and apparatus for desulfurising the nickel powder prior to briquetting which is more efficient than the above-noted prior art technique.
- the nickel powder is transported substantially continuously from a nickel powder feedpoint to a desulfurised nickel powder discharge point.
- the nickel powder is exposed to a hydrogen containing gas flowing in a counter-current direction relative to the direction of transport of the nickel powder.
- the nickel powder is heated up to temperatures within the range of 400° to 950°C, more preferably between 650° and 800°.
- a non-volatile desulfurising agent is employed.
- the desulfurising agent is a solid material which reacts with hydrogen sulfide.
- Suitable adsorbing desulfurising agents include calcium and magnesium hydroxide, carbonate and oxide.
- the desulfurising agent can be regenerated by desorbing the hydrogen sulfide at lower temperatures.
- the process includes the further step of forming the desulfurised nickel powder into briquettes.
- the nickel powder is formed into briquettes upon exiting from the desulfurised nickel powder discharge point, while the powder is still hot.
- an apparatus for desulfurising nickel powder comprising:
- said reactor is a kiln through which the nickel powder is transported substantially continuously from a nickel powder feed point to a desulfurised nickel powder discharge point.
- said reactor is a rotary kiln.
- the apparatus further comprises a device for blowing a hydrogen containing gas through the kiln in a counter-current direction relative to the direction of transport of the nickel powder.
- said means for removing the hydrogen sulfide gas comprises a filter having said desulfurising agent provided in connection therewith.
- said filter is provided in a gas by-pass stream through which the hydrogen containing gas is recycled after is passes through the kiln.
- said means for removing the hydrogen sulfide gas comprises said desulfurisation agent located within the kiln adjacent said nickel powder.
- a non-volatile desulfurisation agent is employed.
- the desulfurisation agent is a solid material which reacts hydrogen sulfide.
- Suitable adsorbing desulfurisation agents include alkaline earth metals, metal oxides, carbonates and hydroxides such as Ca, Mg, CaO, MgO, CaCO 3 , Ca(OH) 2 , MgCO 3 and Mg(OH) 2 .
- Figure 1 is a scanning electron micrograph (SEM) image of particles of nickel powder
- Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a laboratory scale rotating tube furnace employed to obtain experimental results
- Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a possible embodiment of the process and apparatus for desulfurising nickel powder in accordance with the invention.
- Figure 1 illustrates a typical sample of washed and dried nickel powder viewed under SEM examination. Individual grains of the nickel powder resemble small cauliflowers, with some of the grains having fissures leading into the interior of the particles. The bulk of the powder (86%) is in the size range between 212 and 106 ⁇ m, with 99% of the particles passing through a screen aperture of 300 ⁇ m. A sulfur analysis of two size fractions between 212-150 ⁇ m and 150-106 ⁇ m yielded 0.017% and 0.029% sulfur content respectively.
- the present invention is based on the discovery that hydrogen gas can be used as a transfer agent to transport the sulfur from the nickel powder to a suitable desulfurising agent.
- Desulfurisation of the nickel powder occurs through the formation of hydrogen sulfide when the powder is contacted with a hydrogen containing gas.
- Laboratory test work indicated that the extent of the desulfurisation reaction is determined more by gas equilibrium than kinetic considerations.
- any suitable method of contacting the nickel powder with a hydrogen containing gas may be employed.
- a drop tube furnace, a horizontal tube furnace, a fluidised bed and a rotating tube furnace were all employed with varying degrees of success.
- the use of an indirectly heated rotary kiln is favoured over that of a fluidised bed, as it is difficult to achieve counter- current flow with a fluidised bed.
- the capital and operating costs of a blower to maintain the flow of gas would be less than for a fluid bed, in which the blower has to create sufficient pressure drop to levitate the bed.
- the rotating tube furnace assembly 10 as illustrated in Figure 2 consists of an electrically wound horizontal tube furnace 12 capable of producing temperatures of up to 1200°C.
- a long pythagoras tube 14 38mm ID x 46mm OD x 500mm
- the other closed end of the tube 14 was located in the central hot zone of the furnace 12.
- a 100mm diameter aluminium pulley wheel 18 was attached to the part of the tube extending from the furnace 12, and was coupled to a 30mm diameter pulley on a variable speed electric drive 20 by means of a suitable pulley.
- the speed of electric drive 20 was selected to ensure that the speed of rotation of the tube 14 was approximately 20rpm.
- the furnace assembly 10 was tilted to an incline of 30mm in 580mm so that feed solids would move towards and remain in the closed end of the tube within the hot zone of the furnace 12.
- the cool open end of the tube 14 was sealed with a rubber bung which could be removed to add feed solids and remove products.
- Gas entered the tube 14 through a brass rotating seal which penetrated the centre of the bung.
- High purity hydrogen gas supplied by BOC Gases
- the gas mixture was transferred directly to the hot end of the pythagoras tube 14 via a quarter inch stainless steel tube 26 supported concentrically within the pythagoras tube 14 by a freely rotating gas inlet.
- the stainless steel tube 26 also passed concentrically through a half inch stainless steel Tee and the rotary gas inlet/exit assembly 16.
- the exhaust gases flow back to the cool end of the pythagoras tube 14, through an annular space in the rotary gas inlet/exit assembly 16 and the half inch stainless steel Tee, then out via a side branch before passing through a gas bubbler (not shown) containing lead acetate solution to remove hydrogen sulfide and then vented to a forced draft exhaust.
- the pythagoras tube 14 was purged with a flow of 2 L/min of nitrogen. Approximately 30g of nickel powder was pre- weighed in a glass boat and transferred into a stainless steel tube for insertion into the pythagoras tube 14 which had been pre-heated to the experimental temperature. The rubber bung was removed to allow the stainless steel tube to be inserted into the pythagoras tube 14 to transfer the feed into the tube 14. Purging with nitrogen continued during feeding. The bung was replaced, rotation commenced and the timer started for six minutes of nitrogen purging while the powder made its way to the hot end of the tube 14. The hydrogen control valve was kept closed while the cylinder was opened and the mass flow indicator warmed up.
- Tests were also carried out to determine the feasibility of using desulfurising agents in a hydrogen containing atmosphere to adsorb the H 2 S produced by the desulfurisation of nickel powder and thus regenerate the hydrogen in situ in the kiln.
- Two desulfurising agents namely slaked lime and Mg ribbon, were separately trialled using the rotating tube furnace assembly 10.
- the nickel powder and the desulfurising agent were placed in separate alumina boats in close proximity to each other. Two temperatures (500°C and 600°C) were tested, and the results are shown in Table 3 below.
- the materials were brought up to temperature under argon (0.5 L/m). When the furnace reached the desired temperature, the flow of argon was cut off, and a flow of 1 L/m of hydrogen was maintained for two minutes to purge the argon.
- FIG 3 illustrates a possible commercial scale embodiment of an apparatus 30 for desulfurising nickel powder using a rotary kiln 32 in which the off-gases are recycled back into the kiln via an adsorbent H 2 S filter 34.
- the nickel powder is fed to the rotary kiln 32 via a nickel powder feed hopper 35 which pre-heats the powder prior to entry into the rotary kiln 32 at a feed rate of 6 tonne per hour.
- the rotary kiln is kept at a temperature of approximately 750°C and is indirectly heated using natural gas.
- the rotary kiln has a length of 12,000mm and an internal diameter of 1200mm and is inclined with a slope of 50mm per 1000mm.
- the rotary kiln 32 would typically be rotated at approximately 20 rpm.
- a gas blower 36 produces a pressure drop within the rotary kiln 32 to maintain a flow of hydrogen containing gas of 1200m7min through the rotary kiln in a counter-current direction relative to the direction of transport of the nickel powder through the kiln.
- Off- gas from the rotary kiln 32 exits from rotary outlet 38 and is made up with fresh hydrogen gas before passing through the adsorbent filter 34.
- the filter 34 incorporates a filter membrane made from a suitable non-volatile desulfurising agent such as calcium or magnesium metal or calcium hydroxide which can be periodically replaced as required.
- Gas passing through the filter 34 is recycled back into the rotary kiln 32 via a gas preheater 40 which brings the gas up to temperature before entry into the rotary kiln 32.
- the off gas composition is approximately 9.9% H 2 , 0.1% H 2 S and 90% N 2 , whereas the recycled gas entering via the preheater 40, is approximately 10% H 2 and 90% N 2 .
- the desulfurised nickel powder exits from the rotary kiln 32 via a discharge hopper 42 where some cooling of the nickel powder occurs. From there the desulfurised nickel powder is fed to a hot briquetting machine 44 which presses the powder into small briquettes at a temperature of approximately 400°C. The nickel briquette product which is discharged from the hot briquetting machine 44 is ready for commercial sale.
- reaction equilibrium of the desulfurisation reaction using hydrogen can be significantly improved by reacting the hydrogen sulfide onto an adsorbent material.
- most if not all of the hydrogen can be regenerated resulting in greatly improved hydrogen utilisation.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
- Materials Engineering (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Metallurgy (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Manufacture And Refinement Of Metals (AREA)
- Muffle Furnaces And Rotary Kilns (AREA)
- Gas Separation By Absorption (AREA)
- Powder Metallurgy (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AUPQ3754A AUPQ375499A0 (en) | 1999-10-29 | 1999-10-29 | Nickel powder desulfurisation |
AUPP375499 | 1999-10-29 | ||
PCT/AU2000/001318 WO2001032945A1 (en) | 1999-10-29 | 2000-10-27 | Nickel powder desulfurisation |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1235942A1 true EP1235942A1 (en) | 2002-09-04 |
EP1235942A4 EP1235942A4 (en) | 2003-05-02 |
Family
ID=3817905
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP00972449A Withdrawn EP1235942A4 (en) | 1999-10-29 | 2000-10-27 | Nickel powder desulfurisation |
Country Status (7)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1235942A4 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2003514111A (en) |
AU (2) | AUPQ375499A0 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2389342A1 (en) |
NO (1) | NO20021776L (en) |
WO (1) | WO2001032945A1 (en) |
ZA (1) | ZA200202801B (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP6406613B2 (en) * | 2014-04-15 | 2018-10-17 | 住友金属鉱山株式会社 | Method for producing nickel powder with reduced concentration of carbon and sulfur |
CN107760884A (en) * | 2017-11-14 | 2018-03-06 | 临沂鑫海新型材料有限公司 | Prereduction desulfurizer in rotary kiln in RKEF method smelting ferronickels |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB1001459A (en) * | 1962-11-30 | 1965-08-18 | Sherritt Gordon Mines Ltd | Process for desulphurizing non-ferrous metal and metal alloy particles |
US3256088A (en) * | 1962-11-09 | 1966-06-14 | Sherritt Gordon Mines Ltd | Process for desulphurizing metal and metal alloy particles |
US3287181A (en) * | 1963-11-07 | 1966-11-22 | Steverding Bernard | Treatment of intergranular sulfur corrosion in metals |
US3932170A (en) * | 1974-08-19 | 1976-01-13 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Interior | Use of scavenger in recovery of metal values |
US4376647A (en) * | 1979-10-05 | 1983-03-15 | University Of Utah | Process for treating sulfide-bearing ores |
Family Cites Families (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4515630A (en) * | 1983-08-15 | 1985-05-07 | Olin Corporation | Process of continuously treating an alloy melt |
JPS6075535A (en) * | 1983-09-29 | 1985-04-27 | Sumitomo Metal Mining Co Ltd | Method for desulfurizing fe-ni alloy powder containing iron sulfide |
-
1999
- 1999-10-29 AU AUPQ3754A patent/AUPQ375499A0/en not_active Abandoned
-
2000
- 2000-10-27 CA CA 2389342 patent/CA2389342A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2000-10-27 EP EP00972449A patent/EP1235942A4/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2000-10-27 AU AU11172/01A patent/AU1117201A/en not_active Abandoned
- 2000-10-27 JP JP2001535623A patent/JP2003514111A/en active Pending
- 2000-10-27 WO PCT/AU2000/001318 patent/WO2001032945A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
-
2002
- 2002-04-10 ZA ZA200202801A patent/ZA200202801B/en unknown
- 2002-04-16 NO NO20021776A patent/NO20021776L/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3256088A (en) * | 1962-11-09 | 1966-06-14 | Sherritt Gordon Mines Ltd | Process for desulphurizing metal and metal alloy particles |
GB1001459A (en) * | 1962-11-30 | 1965-08-18 | Sherritt Gordon Mines Ltd | Process for desulphurizing non-ferrous metal and metal alloy particles |
US3287181A (en) * | 1963-11-07 | 1966-11-22 | Steverding Bernard | Treatment of intergranular sulfur corrosion in metals |
US3932170A (en) * | 1974-08-19 | 1976-01-13 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Interior | Use of scavenger in recovery of metal values |
US4376647A (en) * | 1979-10-05 | 1983-03-15 | University Of Utah | Process for treating sulfide-bearing ores |
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
See also references of WO0132945A1 * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
NO20021776D0 (en) | 2002-04-16 |
ZA200202801B (en) | 2003-02-26 |
WO2001032945A1 (en) | 2001-05-10 |
JP2003514111A (en) | 2003-04-15 |
NO20021776L (en) | 2002-06-12 |
EP1235942A4 (en) | 2003-05-02 |
AU1117201A (en) | 2001-05-14 |
AUPQ375499A0 (en) | 1999-11-25 |
CA2389342A1 (en) | 2001-05-10 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
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PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
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17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 20020426 |
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AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE |
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AX | Request for extension of the european patent |
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A4 | Supplementary search report drawn up and despatched |
Effective date: 20030313 |
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RIC1 | Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant |
Ipc: 7B 22F 9/16 B Ipc: 7B 22F 1/00 B Ipc: 7C 22B 9/05 B Ipc: 7C 22B 1/11 B Ipc: 7C 22B 23/06 A |
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17Q | First examination report despatched |
Effective date: 20030829 |
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RBV | Designated contracting states (corrected) |
Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE FI FR LI |
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STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN |
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18D | Application deemed to be withdrawn |
Effective date: 20040109 |