Electrochemical oxidation of nickel sulfide metallic alloys

The sequence of the electrochemical oxidation of phase components of the converter matte is confirmed and variations in the composition of its surface during the anode oxidation are revealed. It is shown that regularities of this process that are characteristic of its phase components, namely, nickel and its sulfides, are inherent to the converter matte. The oxidation of nickel sulfides in sulfide-metallic alloys starts at lower potentials (1.1–1.2 V) than that of synthesized nickel sulfide (1.2–1.3 V). During the oxidation of the converter matte, metal nickel initially oxidizes and, only as this stage finishes, the oxidation of sulfides accompanied by the isolation of elemental sulfur is developed. Copper impurities weakly affect the oxidation of the converter matte, although the shift of potentials takes place as the Cu/Ni ratio increases.