China Nonferrous Metallurgy

The platinum group metals distribution is highly concentrated around the world, while platinum group metal resources are significantly limited in China. It is important to achieve efficient utilization of platinum group metal resources during the overseas development of platinum group metal mines by Chinese companies. In this article, the current pyrometallurgy mechanism and process of platinum group metals are reviewed, with a view to provide reference for future research on pyrometallurgy technology of platinum group metal ores. For platinum group metal concentrate from flotation, the electric furnace+converter process is still the main pyrometallurgy method, including drying, smelting to prepare low nickel matte (furnace matte) by electric furnace, converting to prepare high nickel matte (converter matte) by converter, etc. Future research on platinum group metal ores smelting technology should focus on the development and utilization of efficient smelting methods such as enhanced smelting and bath smelting, of Platinum Palladium minerals, and low grade nickel matte converting can focus on the feasibility of continuous converting such as bottom blowing and multi lance top blowing instead of PS converter converting.