Processing history at Vale Canada’s (Inco’s) nickel-copper smelter at Copper Cliff, Ontario: Post-1950

CIM Journal, Vol. 4, No. 1, 2013

B. R. Conard Oakville, ON

It is critical that historical processes and concomitant exposures to specific nickel substances be understood because some diseases linked to inhalation of certain nickel-containing substances have a long latency between first exposure and disease onset, and because nickel substances vary significantly in their toxicological properties. A discussion of the smelting history and related processes at Vale Canada’s (Inco’s) Copper Cliff, Ontario, smelter is integral to the understanding of these processes. The post-1950 processing history, equipment, propensity for aerosol formation, operational procedures, and ventilation controls used by Vale Canada in roasting, smelting, converting, and copper-nickel separation is discussed.

Mots Clés: Nickel, Inco, Smelting, Roasting, Inhalation of particulate, Process history