Slags, nickel smelting

Additional physico-chemical information

Administrative data

Endpoint:

other: chemical and mineralogical characterization

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Cross-reference

Reason / purpose for cross-reference:

reference to same study

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

study report

Title:

Unnamed

Year:

2010

Report date:

2010

Materials and methods

Principles of method if other than guideline:

Chemistry /elemental analysis was determined using ICP (inductively Coupled Plasma spectroscopy). Metal speciation/metal mineralogy was assessed from Sequential extraction/metal analysis and mineralogical analysis (XRD and microscopes equipped with EDS (Energy Dispersive Spectrometry) and WDS (Wavelength Dispersive Spectrometry) analysers. The interpretation of the overall results was performed by expert (with profound knowledge of metal particularities).

GLP compliance:

no

Remarks:

Equivalent quality assurance

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Slags, electric furnace smelting, iron silicate

IUPAC Name:

Slags, electric furnace smelting, iron silicate

Details on test material:

Typical nickel slag sample ( 4683) representative for the production process was collected at the manufacturing site:

Sampling and sample preparation was performed according to ECI/REACH C2 Sampling Protocol. The C2 sampling protocol also provides detailed information on the identity of the samples (see IUCLID section 1.4).

Results and discussion

Any other information on results incl. tables

Chemical and mineralogical composition of studied sample

Lab code			09TT04683
Sample code			C2
Chemical composition					Mineral composition
Fe	TOT	%	38.70		Fe2SiO4	Fayalite	92.12
	BM	%	0.08		Si(Fe,Al,Ca)O2-3	Glass	4.55
Ni	TOT	%	0.15		Fe3O4	Magnetite	3.15
	BM	%	0.04		NiFe	Nickel	0.13
Co	TOT	%	0.13		NiS	Heazlewoodite	0.05
	BM	%	<0.004		Total		100.00
Cu	TOT	%	0.09
	BM	%	0.01		Distribution of copper
As	TOT	%	<0.004		NiFe		85.74
	BM	%	<0.004		NiS		14.26
Pb	TOT	%	<0.02		Distribution of iron
Sb	TOT	%	<0.004		Fe2SiO4		90.60
Sn	TOT	%	<0.004		Fe3O4		5.18
Zn	TOT	%	0.01		Si(Fe,Al,Ca)O2-3		4.18
Ag	TOT	%	<0.002		NiFe		0.03
Se	TOT	%	<0.004		NiS		0.01
Te	TOT	%	<0.004
					Distribution of nickel
SiO2	KEM	%	32.40		Fe2SiO4		58.72
Al2O3	TOT	%	2.60		NiFe		30.04
Cr2O3	TOT	%	0.12		NiS		10.00
K2O	TOT	%	0.61		Si(Fe,Al,Ca)O2-3		0.72
MgO	TOT	%	8.70		Fe3O4		0.52
MnO	TOT	%	0.06
Na2O	TOT	%	0.42
CaO	TOT	%	0.70
S	Leco	%	0.22
SO42-	KEM	%	0.03
C	Leco	%	0.03
Satmagan		%	3.15

TOT= total -, BM= bromine-methanol dissolutions, KEM= ion exchange chromatography, LECO = S/C analyzer, satmagan = Fe₃O₄analyzer

 

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

Good quality study that assessed full chemistry and mineralogy of typical copper slag samples. Proposed mineralogy (distribution pattern for each key element, i.e. % from total into the various mineralogical forms/species present into the UVCB) can be used for classification of the UVCB substance (mixture toxicity rules).

Executive summary:

The studied four primary granulated slag samples ( sample type I) contain 10.4- 41.6% iron, 29.2- 39.3% SiO2 , 0.7- 1% copper, 0.86-1.32% zinc, traces of other metals like Pb, As, Ni.. It consists mainly (93.5- 99.1%) of glass with accessory copper sulphides like bornite, covellite and chalcocite, metallic copper, magnetite and lead as metallic, oxidic and as galena.

Depending on the slag, the distribution of copper between different phases, mainly glass, copper sulfides and metallic copper, varies. Glass carries 25.7- 84% of slags total copper, copper sulfides from 1.7% to 39.6% and metallic copper 1.8% to 39%.

Zinc is mainly carried by glass and less by magnetite. In two slag samples, galena is the only carrier of lead, in one slag all lead occurs as metallic and in one sample lead occurs as metallic and oxidic as litharge –type minerals and also glass is lead –bearing.

Arsenic is completely included in glass phase. Nickel occurs in metallic or alloy form.