Recovery of Non-ferrous Metals from Oceanic Nodules by Pyro and Hydrometallurgical Methods

The study aimed to investigate the possibilities of recovering non-ferrous metals from polymetallic nodules originating from the ocean floor by pyro- and hydrometallurgical methods. In the pyrometallurgical method, the effect of the binder’s addition and the slag-forming component on the reduction process’s efficiency was examined. The reduction allowed the separation of the fraction rich in Mn and Fe (slag phase) from the metallic phase containing non-ferrous metals (mainly Cu and Ni). On the other hand, the hydrometallurgical method consisted of leaching manganese and iron into the solution with mineral acid without adding organic acids. At the current research stage for each of the methods used, separation of ferrous and non-ferrous metals was obtained and concentrated of these last ones suitable for further processing by copper pyrometallurgy technologies.