Leaching of Rapidly Cooled Copper–Nickel Converter Mattes

—Physicochemical studies aimed at increasing the technological efficiency of the hydrometallurgical sulfuric acid processing of copper–nickel converter mattes are presented. The influence of preliminary quenching on sulfuric acid leaching at a sulfuric acid concentration of 100–200 g/L is studied on copper–nickel converter matte samples with the Ni to Cu weight ratios 2 : 1 and 3 : 4 taken from Norilsk Nickel. Preliminary quenching of the copper–nickel converter matte from 1200°C is found to shorten the leaching time by three times compared to the traditional leaching of the slowly cooled converter matte and to pass up to 99% Ni to the solution, leaving up to 74.5% Cu in a cake. A decrease in the Ni to Cu ratio from 2 : 1 to 3 : 4 in the quenched converter matte increases the yield of the copper cake.