Abstract
Feasibility of extracting metals from copper and nickel smelting at BCL in Selebi Phikwe in Botswana is being investigated. At present the slag dump is derelict and considered to be an environmental hazard. This paper explores the recovery Copper, Nickel and Iron to assess viability of profitable recovery of metals lost to slag. If the investigation proved to be successful, subsequent commercial extraction of these metals will have far-reaching economic implications for the country in terms of income from Selebi Phikwe which was left for long after the closure of BCL smelter. This would create jobs to the community who are virtually living in a ghost town. The slag dump is estimated to be over 45 million tons, which is significant tonnage for an operation to run for quite some time. Extraction of cobalt is particularly attractive when compared to the other base metals. Hence Nickel is of special interest.
Keywords
BCL, Slag, Metal Recovery, Engineering Economics, Recovery, Nickel
Biographies
Tlotlo S. Gabasiane is currently a PhD student in the Department of Chemical, Materials and Metallurgical at the Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST). He received his Meng in Chemical and Mineral Processing from University of Leeds, United Kingdom. Previously he attained his a BSc at University of Botswana. He is currently working as a teaching and research assistant at BIUST. He has research interests in extractive metallurgy and mineral processing. Has worked as junior process engineer at Clover Chemicals and gained valuable experience on chemical production and manufacturing as well. The current PhD research is on the extraction of valuable metals from BCL slag.
Dr Shepherd Bhero is currently a full-time senior lecturer in metallurgy and management at Botswana International University of Science and Technology. Dr Bhero holds a PhD in engineering materials and a Master of Metallurgy degree from the University of Sheffield. In management he holds an MSc degree in Total Quality Management and a MCom degree in business management from the University of Johannesburg. Dr Bhero holds a BSc honors degree from the University of Zimbabwe. His research interests are in pyro-metallurgical extraction of metals and development of hard materials for use as grinding media.