Non-ferrous metals include aluminum, copper, lead, zinc and tin, as well as precious metals like gold and silver. Their main advantage over ferrous materials is their malleability. They also have no iron content, giving them a higher resistance to rust and corrosion, and making them ideal for gutters, liquid pipes, roofing and outdoor signs. Lastly they are non-magnetic, which is important for many electronic and wiring applications.

SCOPE OF MSK IN NON-FERROUS:

Item Scope
Ores
  1. Zinc Ores/Concentrates/Sulphides
  2. Lead Ores/Concentrates/Sulphides
  3. Copper Ores/Concentrates/Sulphides
  4. Nickel Ores/Concentrates/Sulphides
  5. Tin Ores (Casseterites)/Concentrates/Sulphides
  6. Cobalt Ores/Concentrates
Alloys
  1. Brass (Copper + Zinc)
  2. Bronze (Copper + Tin)
  3. Lead Base White Metals
  4. Tin Base White Metals
Pure Metals
  1. High Grade Primary Aluminium
  2. High Purity Tin
  3. Special High Grade Zinc
  4. Standard Lead
  5. Primary Nickel
  6. High Purity Copper
  7. High Purity Cobalt
Precious Metals
  1. Platinum
  2. Palladium
  3. Gold
  4. Silver
  5. Ruthenium
  6. Rhodium
  7. Iridium

PRINCIPLES BEHIND WET ANALYSIS OF MAJOR NONFERROUS ELEMENTS:

a) Zinc:

Dissolution of the samples in acid medium followed by complexometric analysis using EDTA (As per ISO 13658)

b) Lead:

Dissolution of the samples in acid medium followed by complexometric analysis using EDTA (As per ISO 13545)

c) Copper:

Dissolution of the samples in acid medium followed by iodometric esimation of copper using sodium thiosulphate (As per ISO 10258)

d) Nickel:

Decomposition of the sample in presence of hydrogen fluoride and acids followed by gravimetric estimation using Di-methyl Glyoxime as a nickel complex (As per JIS M8126)

e) Cobalt:

Dissolution of the sample in acid medium followed by complexometric analysis using EDTA after seperation of other interfering elements (Lab Developed Method)

f) Tin:

Dissolution of the sample in acid medium followed by complexometric analysis using EDTA after seperation of other interfering elements (Lab Developed Method)

Trace Elements & Impurities determined in ICP-OES from the acidified solution after digestion of sample in Sealed Digestion Bomb

FIRE ASSAY TECHNIQUE FOR EXTRACTION OF GOLD, SILVER & PLATINUM GROUP OF METALS (PGM):

Fire assaying is the industry standard process for obtaining pure gold and platinum group elements (PGE) from high grade ores.

THE PROCESS

a) Fusion: The pulverized sample is weighed and mixed with a fluxing agent. The flux assists in melting, helps to fuse the sample at a reasonable temperature and promotes separation of the gangue material from the precious metals. In addition to the flux, lead or nickel is added as a collector. The sample is then heated in a furnace where it fuses and separates from the collector material ‘button’, which contains the precious minerals.

b) Precious Metal Extraction: Once the button is separated from the gangue, the precious metals are extracted from the collector through a process called cupellation. Once the button has cooled, it is separated from the slag and cupelled.

  • When lead is used as a collector, the lead oxidizes and is absorbed into the cupel leaving a precious metal bead. The bead is then dissolved in aqua regia for analysis.
  • When nickel is used as a collector, the button is crushed and dissolved in hydrochloric acid and the residue is filtered to remove extraneous material, leaving the precious metal residue on the filter.

Analysis & Detection: Gold and PGMs can be analysed by Flame atomic Abosorption (AAS) or by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (ICP-OES). Detection level is in ppb and ppm level depending on the performance of the equipment.