AP15473200 – Development of technology for processing oxidized ores with preliminary high-temperature sulfidization
Objective of the project: The purpose of the work is to develop the operating parameters of sulfiding roasting in autogenous conditions of a fluidized bed furnace with subsequent magnetic and flotation enrichment of roasting products.
Relevance: The development of the lead-zinc industry requires an expansion of the raw material base of modern non-ferrous metallurgy. One of the critically important reserves in this direction is the involvement in the exploitation of difficult-to-process ores, in particular oxidized and mixed, as well as liquid tailings. A significant part of polymetallic, lead-zinc ores currently contain less than 3% zinc and less than 1% lead; they are also characterized by difficulty in dressing due to fine impregnation and close intergrowth of ore and non-metallic minerals, as well as significant oxidation of the near-surface part of ore bodies. In world practice, when processing ores of this composition, there is a tendency to use combined methods, including hydro- or pyrometallurgy operations in combination with flotation or gravity concentration, depending on the characteristics of the material composition of the ores. One of the effective activating methods for preparing oxidized minerals for flotation is sulfidation roasting. Sulfidation roasting in a “fluidized bed” furnace is proposed using pyrite concentrate as a sulfidizer and fuel, which ensures the transfer of minerals from the oxidized form to the easily enriched sulfide form, with a significant reduction in metal loss than when using other activation schemes, followed by magnetic and flotation enrichment of the products firing This technology is becoming particularly relevant in the context of a rapid decline in the content of lead and zinc in ores.
Scientific supervisor : Doctor of Ph.D., Merkibaev Erik Serikovich
Results obtained: An efficient processing technology for zinc-oligonite ore based on high-temperature sulfidizing roasting was substantiated and developed. Physicochemical and mineralogical studies of the Zhairem deposit ore were carried out to determine its composition and properties. Optimal roasting conditions in a fluidized bed furnace were established (650–700°C, pyrite-to-ore ratio of 2:1). Subsequent magnetic separation and flotation enabled zinc recovery of up to 88–90% and lead recovery up to 100%. The magnetic properties of pyrrhotite were investigated, confirming its potential as an additional marketable product. The developed technology demonstrated high technological feasibility and economic efficiency for industrial application.
List of publications with links to them
- Чепуштанова Т.А., Меркибаев Е.С., Луганов В.А. Способ переработки окисленной свинцово-цинковой руды: патент РК № 36282; опубл. 30.06.2023.
- Chepushtanova T.A., Merkibayev Y.S., Baigenzhenov O.S., Mishra B. Technology of high-temperature sulfidizing roasting of oxidized lead-zinc ore in a fluidized bed furnace // Non-ferrous Metals. – 2023. – № 2. – P. 3–10. – DOI: 10.17580/nfm.2023.01.01.
(процентиль Scopus – 53). URL: https://www.rudmet.ru/journal/2217/article/36738/ - Chepushtanova T.A., Merkibayev Y.S., Mamyrbayeva K.K., Sarsenbekov T., Mishra B. Mechanism and technological results of sulfidation roasting of oxidized lead compounds // Complex Use of Mineral Resources. – 2025. – Vol. 332, No. 1. – DOI: https://doi.org/10.31643/2025/6445.11 (Q3). URL: http://kims-imio.com/index.php/main/article/view/441