Grant: Engage Grants Program
Memorial University of Newfoundland
$25,000.00
Identification of lignosulphonate by-products from hydrometallurgical processing of Vale's Voisey's Bay ore and their potential mitigation
EF 2011-12
Résumé
The proposal involves an investigation and analysis of lignosulfonate (LS) by-products which are formed
during the hydrometallurgical (Hydromet) processing of nickel sulfide ore concentrate at Vale's Long Harbour
plant in Newfoundland. The lignosulphonates are added to, and are involved in, two early stages of the
hydromet process in order to preferentally bind and partially disperse elemental sulfur that is formed during the
""Chlorine Preleach"" and ""Pressure Oxidation Preleach"" processes. However the process also results in the LS
undergoing undesired reactions which then produces by-products that are carried through to the next processing
stage. The presence of these by-products result in decreased efficiency and economics of metal recoveries in
subsequent stages.
The proposal is a collaboration between Vale's technical staff and the Chemistry Department of Memorial
University of Newfoundland (MUN) in order to understand the chemical nature of these LS by-products
present in representative samples collected from Vale's Hydromet pilot-plant facility with the objective of
mitigating their unwanted effects.
Programme
Engage Grants Program
Bénéficiaire
Emplacement
Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Type de bénéficiaire
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
Tel que publié
Application id
428334-2011
Name nom
Helleur, Robert
Department département
Chemistry
Organization id
89
Institution établissement
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Province en
Newfoundland and Labrador
Province fr
Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2011
Competition year année de concours
2011
Award amount
25000
Program id
EGP
Program nane en
Engage Grants Program
Program name fr
Programme de subventions d'engagement partenariat
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
1551
Committee name en
Atlantic Internal Decision Committee
Committee name fr
Comité de décision interne pour l'Atlantique
Area of application code
202
Area of application group en
Natural resources (economic aspects)
Area of application group fr
Ressources naturelles (aspects économiques)
Area of application en
Mineral resources ( prospecting, exploration, mining, extraction, processing)
Area of application fr
Ressources minérales (prospection, exploration, mines, extraction et préparation)
Research subject code
3502
Research subject group en
Analytical chemistry
Research subject group fr
Chimie analytique
Research subject en
Organic analytical chemistry
Research subject fr
Chimie analytique organique
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
Identification of lignosulphonate by-products from hydrometallurgical processing of Vale's Voisey's Bay ore and their potential mitigation
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
The proposal involves an investigation and analysis of lignosulfonate (LS) by-products which are formed
during the hydrometallurgical (Hydromet) processing of nickel sulfide ore concentrate at Vale's Long Harbour
plant in Newfoundland. The lignosulphonates are added to, and are involved in, two early stages of the
hydromet process in order to preferentally bind and partially disperse elemental sulfur that is formed during the
""Chlorine Preleach"" and ""Pressure Oxidation Preleach"" processes. However the process also results in the LS
undergoing undesired reactions which then produces by-products that are carried through to the next processing
stage. The presence of these by-products result in decreased efficiency and economics of metal recoveries in
subsequent stages.
The proposal is a collaboration between Vale's technical staff and the Chemistry Department of Memorial
University of Newfoundland (MUN) in order to understand the chemical nature of these LS by-products
present in representative samples collected from Vale's Hydromet pilot-plant facility with the objective of
mitigating their unwanted effects.
