Norilsk Nickel has created a new nickel production technology

Specialists of the Department of Scientific and Technological Development and Environmental Safety of Kola MMC (MMC Norilsk Nickel’s subsidiary) together with the specialists of Gipronickel Institute invented a new technology of nickel production from sulphide ore.

The technology is based on leaching process with supply of oxygen and chlorine. Iron contained in the raw material goes to waste and copper in the form of a sulphide product is removed from nickel and cobalt containing leaching solution, which is then cleaned from other impurities. In Electrolysis Shop refined nickel and cobalt hydroxides are processed to produce commercial metals.

New technology of nickel production from sulfide raw materials makes it possible to omit pyrometallurgical processing of ore concentrate and reduce the associated significant material and operating costs.

In addition, the new technology allows to increase the output of marketable products by up to 5 percent.

The invention of Kola metallurgists was approved by the Federal Intellectual Property Service of Russia.