Magnetic recovery of valuables from slag material

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for the separation of at least one metal from a slag, comprising that at least one metal and further components, comprising at least step (A) grinding the slag, (B) if appropriate, contacting the ground slag of step (A) with at least one surface-active substance and/or at least one magnetic particle, if appropriate in the presence of at least one dispersant, resulting in formation of agglomerates of the at least one metal and the at least one magnetic particle, (C) if appropriate, addition of at least one dispersant to the mixture obtained in step (B) to give a dispersion having a suitable concentration, and (D) separation of the agglomerates from the mixture of step (B) or (C) by application of a magnetic field, and to the use of at least one magnetic particle for the separation of slag.

1 . Process for the separation of at least one metal from a slag, comprising that at least one metal and further components, comprising at least the following steps:
 (A) grinding the slag to obtain particles,   (B) if appropriate, contacting the ground slag of step (A) with at least one magnetic particle and/or at least one surface altering substance, if appropriate in the presence of at least one dispersant, resulting in formation of agglomerates of the at least one metal and the at least one magnetic particle due to magnetic and/or hydrophobic interactions,   (C) if appropriate, addition of at least one dispersant to the mixture obtained in step (A) or (B) to give a dispersion having a suitable concentration, and   (D) separation of the particles from the mixture of step (A) or of the agglomerates from the mixture of step (B) or (C) by application of a magnetic field.   
     
     
         2 . Process according to  claim 1 , wherein after step (D) the following step (E) conducted:
 (E) further processing of the particles or the agglomerates from step (D) via smelting, extracting and/or wet chemical refining.   
     
     
         3 . Process according to  claim 1 , wherein after step (D), the following step (F) conducted:
 (F) cleavage of the agglomerates from step (D) and, if appropriate, processing of the at least one metal via smelting, extracting and/or wet chemical refining.   
     
     
         4 . Process according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one metal is selected from the group consisting of Ag, Au, Pt, Pd, Rh, Ru, Ir, Os, Cu, Mo, Ni, Mn, Zn, Pb, Te Sn, Re, V, Fe and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         5 . Process according to  claim 1 , wherein the slag that is introduced into claim (A) is an artificially prepared slag. 
     
     
         6 . Process according to  claim 1 , wherein the slag comprises at least one compound selected from the group consisting of SiO 2 , CaO, Al 2 O 3 , MgO, P 2 O 3 , ZrO 2 , Fe 2 O 3 , Fe 3 O 4 , CO 2 , Cr 2 O 3 , complex oxide matrices and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         7 . Process according to  claim 1 , wherein, if step (B) is conducted, at least one magnetic particle is added in step (B) in an amount of 0.1 to 3% by weight, in respect of the slag to be separated. 
     
     
         8 . Process according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one metal is present in the slag in an amount of 0.01 to 1000 g/t of slag to be separated. 
     
     
         9 . Process according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one magnetic particle is an iron-comprising compound. 
     
     
         10 . Process according to  claim 1 , wherein after step (A) step (A1) is conducted, comprising
 (A1) Addition of at least one dispersant to the mixture obtained in step (A) to give a dispersion having a suitable concentration.   
     
     
         11 . The method of using at least one magnetic particle for the separation of slag. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one magnetic particle comprises iron or iron oxides.