Two-stage fluid bed reduction of manganese nodules

US4044094A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Kennecott Copper Corporation · US

Inventors

• Herbert E. Barner · Westford, US
• David S. Davies · Ham Lake, US
• Lester J. Szabo · York, CA

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 26, 1974
• Grant date: Aug 23, 1977
• Expiry date: Aug 26, 1994

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S423/04
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Process in which manganese nodules are treated to enable metal values to be recovered. Manganese ore nodules are treated in a two-stage fluid bed process to produce a leachable product. In the first stage, dried nodules are calcined using direct fuel injection under a neutral or slightly oxidizing atmosphere to remove about one-half of the oxygen content. Subsequently, in the second stage, the calcined nodules are reduced with synthesis gas to render the metal values leachable. The metal values such as copper and nickel are leached from the reduced nodules with an ammonia-ammonium carbonate leach solution.