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2025 Vol.34, Issue 2 Preview Page

Research Paper

Preliminary Study on Beneficiation for Nickel Recovery from Domestic Serpentine Ore

국내 사문석광으로부터 니켈 회수를 위한 기초 선광 연구

Seongsoo Han1*
,
Bum Han Lee2
,
Joobeom Seo1*
한 성수1*
,
이 범한2
,
서 주범1*
1Mineral Processing And Metallurgy Research Center, Resource Utilization Division, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM)
2Critical Minerals Research Center, Mineral Resources Research Division, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM)
1한국지질자원연구원 자원활용연구본부 자원회수연구센터
2한국지질자원연구원 광물자원연구본부 희소금속연구센터
*Corresponding Author
30 April 2025. pp. 53-62
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Abstract

An initial beneficiation study was conducted on obtaining nickel sulfide minerals from Andong serpentine ore, which contains 0.3% nickel by weight, as a first step toward developing nickel ore in South Korea. The results of mineralogical analyses revealed that the main gangue minerals were lizardite, talc, and magnetite. Nickel was found in the form of pentlandite, a sulfide mineral. Two beneficiation processes for recovering nickel were designed and compared: a combined magnetic separation and flotation process as well as a flotation-only process. Magnetic separation was used for removing the magnetite as a gangue mineral. However, a large amount of Ni moved to the magnetic fraction, leading to a low final Ni concentrate grade of 0.44 wt. %. This finding indicates that magnetic separation is unsuitable for recovering nickel sulfide from Andong serpentine ore. In contrast, the final Ni concentrate grade in the flotation-only process was 1.84 wt. %, a value 6.13 times higher than that of the feed. Although the concentration grade remained lower than that from concentrate obtained from commercial Ni mines, potential exists for recovery. These findings are consequence of two factors: the low selection efficiency of the rougher surface and the potential substitution of nickel with iron and magnesium in oxide minerals such as olivine, pyroxene, and serpentine. In conclusion, magnetic separation is unsuitable for Ni recovery from Andong serpentine ore, whereas flotation shows potential but requires further optimization. Future research will focus on optimizing the rougher flotation stage and increasing the serpentine depression to enhance separation efficiency. This study provides a foundation for establishing a stable nickel supply chain and provides data for the development of domestic nickel ores.

Keywords
Nickel
Beneficiation
Serpentine
Magnetic separation
Flotation

국내 부존 니켈광 개발을 위해 니켈 함량 0.3 wt.%의 안동 사문석광에서 니켈 황화광 회수를 위한 기초 선광 연구를 수행하였다. 광물학적 분석 결과, 주요 맥석 광물로 리자다이트, 활석, 자철석이 확인되었으며, 니켈은 황화광물인 펜틀란다이트 형태로 존재하였다. 니켈 회수를 위해 자력선별과 부유선별을 결합한 공정과 부유선별 단독 공정을 설계하여 비교 분석하였다. 자력선별 공정을 통해 맥석인 자철석이 효과적으로 제거되었으나, 니켈 또한 자성 산물로 이동하는 현상이 나타나 최종 정광의 Ni 품위가 0.44 wt.%로 낮게 산출되었다. 이는 자력선별 공정이 안동 사문석광에서 니켈 황화광을 회수할 때 적절하지 않음을 의미한다. 반면, 부유선별만을 적용한 공정에서는 최종 정광의 Ni 품위가 1.84 wt.%로 원광 대비 6.13배 증가하였다. 이는 기존 상용 니켈 광산의 정광 품위에 비해 여전히 낮은 수준이었지만, 회수 가능성을 확인할 수 있었다. 이러한 결과는 감람석, 휘석, 사문석과 같은 산화광물 내에서 철과 마그네슘이 니켈과 치환되었을 가능성과 조선 공정의 낮은 선별 효율에 기인한 것으로 추정된다. 결론적으로, 자력선별은 안동 사문석광에서 니켈을 회수하는 데 적합하지 않으며, 부유선별 공정은 가능성은 있으나 추가적인 개선이 필요함을 확인하였다. 향후 연구에서는 사문석 억제력 강화 및 조선 공정의 최적화를 통해 선별 효율을 향상시키는 방안을 검토할 계획이다. 본 연구는 국내 니켈광 개발의 기초 자료를 제공하며, 향후 안정적인 니켈 공급망 구축을 위한 연구의 기반이 될 것으로 기대된다.

키워드
니켈
선광
사문석
자력선별
부유선별
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Information
  • Publisher :The Korean Institute of Resources Recycling
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국자원리싸이클링학회
  • Journal Title :Resources Recycling
  • Journal Title(Ko) :자원리싸이클링
  • Volume : 34
  • No :2
  • Pages :53-62
  • Received Date : 2025-03-11
  • Revised Date : 2025-03-20
  • Accepted Date : 2025-03-24
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7844/kirr.2025.34.2.53
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