The aim of the study was to develop a process option for the value addition of a leach residue from hydrometallurgical nickel refining. The residue in question is copper-rich (58 %) with sulphur (23 %), nickel (3 %) and iron (2 %) as the other main constituents. The prevailing phases are covellite and antlerite and the residue is already a marketable product as such. The current study suggests a flow sheet with moderate temperature autogenous pressure leach, selenium removal and copper electrowinning. Precious and platinum group metals will enrich the solid phase. Further solution purification is to be considered if London Metal Exchange grade copper is desired. The process was modelled in a steady-state and a proposal was made for integration into nickel refining. The bleed requirement from the developed copper circuit was 51 % of the spent electrolyte, which may be treated and utilised in the preceding nickel refining. In addition, sensitivity analysis was conducted to obtain data for adapting the copper circuit to suit nickel refining and navigate the way forward in the development project. The process simulation showed that the copper circuit, in the case of pressure leaching, would produce more than 300 kg of acid per tonne of feed, which would need to be bled out.

该研究的目的是为湿法冶金镍精炼中的浸出残渣开发一种工艺选项。所讨论的残渣富含铜 (58%)，其他主要成分为硫 (23%)、镍 (3%) 和铁 (2%)。主要的相是煤橄榄石和角橄榄石，残渣本身就已经是一种适销对路的产品。目前的研究提出了一种具有中温自压浸出、硒去除和铜电解沉积的流程。贵金属和铂族金属将富集固相。如果需要伦敦金属交易所级铜，则需要考虑进一步的溶液净化。该过程以稳态建模，并提出了将其整合到镍精炼中的建议。所开发的铜电路的渗出要求是 51% 的废电解液，可以在之前的镍精炼中进行处理和利用。此外，还进行了敏感性分析以获得数据，以使铜电路适应镍精炼，并在开发项目中指明前进的方向。工艺模拟表明，在压力浸出的情况下，铜回路每吨进料会产生超过 300 公斤的酸，需要排出。