Cradle to Gate
Identity ID
4738da78-2ef7-4dcb-920b-e2f8d139e9a3
Materials
Associated ID
1b98c474-73e0-44a1-9b5c-da4da1be913c
Included activities starts
Included activities ends
Description
The product represented by this dataset is high-nickel matte, a core intermediate product obtained from copper-nickel mixed concentrate through a pyrometallurgical smelting process (flash smelting furnace - converter blowing - electric furnace slag cleaning), with prominent core characteristics: its main chemical components are nickel sulfide and copper sulfide, with a nickel content as high as 46.6%, indicating an outstanding nickel metal enrichment effect. It appears as a molten mass or, after cooling, as a lump, and in addition to the core nickel and copper components, it also contains a certain proportion of iron and sulfur, with stable composition and strong compatibility with subsequent extraction processes. Its upstream and downstream industry chains are closely connected: the upstream core raw material is copper-nickel mixed concentrate, and downstream it is directly applied in the electrolytic nickel extraction stage as the core raw material for hydrometallurgical smelting or refining processes. After treatment, electrolytic nickel can be efficiently separated and extracted, while valuable metals such as copper are recovered. It broadly supports the development of metallurgy, new energy, electronics, aerospace, and other key industrial fields, and is a key intermediate carrier in the nickel-copper smelting industry chain connecting mixed concentrate with electrolytic nickel products. The entire production process focuses on the pyrometallurgical smelting stage, covering the full conversion process from the input of copper-nickel mixed concentrate to the output of finished high-nickel matte. The dataset includes the main raw and auxiliary materials, energy, and waste in the production process; infrastructure such as the manufacturing of production equipment and the construction of plants is not included within the dataset boundary. The data inventory is formed by merging data from multiple sources.
Activity Description
The entire production process includes the pyrometallurgy process, covering the entire process from copper-nickel mixed concentrate to high-nickel matte.
Process Description
High-nickel matte is a product obtained by pyrometallurgy of copper-nickel mixed concentrate using flash smelting furnace-converter blowing-electric furnace depletion process. The main components are nickel sulfide and copper sulfide, and the nickel content is about 46.6%. It is a molten or cooled block with a high metallic nickel content and a certain proportion of copper, iron and sulfur. High-nickel matte is an important raw material for subsequent hydrometallurgy or refining to extract electrolytic nickel.
Time period
2021
2026
Geography
China
Geography comment
Generated by merging multiple data sets in this geographical location.
Macroeconomic value
Business-as-Usual
Data validation
Yes
Technology
Current Technology
Technology comment
In the pyrometallurgical smelting stage, the mixed concentrate is fed into a flash furnace for smelting to produce low nickel matte, which is then blown by a converter into high nickel matte with a nickel content of approximately 46.6%. The flash smelting slag and converter slag are depleted in an electric furnace to produce low nickel matte, which is returned to the converter for blowing. The depleted slag is sent to the slag yard for storage, and the flue gas is used to produce sulfuric acid after dust collection.