Microwave assisted atmospheric acid leaching of nickel from laterite ore

The recovery of nickel from laterite ore with sulphuric acid under the effect of microwave irradiation was studied.The experimental results indicated that the extraction rate of nickel was influenced by reaction time,sulphuric acid concentration,and temperature,especially by microwave power.The results obtained from the experiments of orthogonal arrays showed that the optimum conditions of sulphuric acid concentration,reaction time,microwave power,and temperature were 25 vol.%,1.5 h,600 W,and 90°C,respectively.Under the optimal conditions,the nickel recovery could reach approximately 90.8%,which was higher than that obtained by conventional water bath heating.Kinetic experiments showed that the leaching of nickel in a sulphuric acid medium was controlled by chemical reaction occurring on the surface of laterite ore.The apparent activation energy was 38.9 kJ/mol.Microwave heating technology is efficient,clean,and easy to control and facilitate continuous processing of materials.     

Pressure nitric acid leaching of alkali-pretreated low-grade limonitic laterite

The pressure nitric acid leaching of alkali-pretreated low-grade limonitic laterite, as well as removing impurity Al(III) and preparing intermediate product of nickel/cobalt sulphide from leaching liquor were investigated. After pretreatment, iron exists in the form of amorphous iron oxides, while nickel is adsorbed on the surface of iron oxides in the form of nickel oxide. The preferable pressure leaching conditions are determined as follows: leaching temperature of 458 K, leaching duration of 60 min, initial acidity of nitric acid of 1.90 mol L-1and liquid to solid ratio of 3:1(volume to mass ratio). Under these conditions, the leaching efficiencies of Ni, Co and Al are 95 %, 88 % and 55 %, respectively, and that of Fe is less than 1 %. The loss rates of Ni and Co are 1.8 % and1.5 %, respectively, during the step of removing impurity Al(III). The sulphide precipitation process produces the interim production of nickel/cobalt sulphides, recovering greater than 99 % of Ni and Co in the purified solution.The iron-rich([60 %) pressure leaching residue with low Cr, S can be further reclaimed as the raw materials for iron making.     

直接酸浸-溶剂萃取法从废油加氢催化剂中回收钒和镍（英文）

采用直接酸浸-溶剂萃取法从废油加氢催化剂中选择性萃取分离钒和镍。钒(Ⅳ)和镍(Ⅱ)的萃取分离分为两步：钒和镍的酸浸以及溶剂萃取。首先,通过酸浸实现钒和镍的高效浸取,浸出率分别为88.07%和75.58%。其次,逆流萃取实验表明,在酸性环境下以P204作为钒的高效萃取剂进行三段萃取,钒的萃取率为99.21%,而镍和铁则不萃取。钒萃取余液经氨水-硫酸铵脱铝预处理后,在氨介质中以LIX84-Ⅰ作为镍的高效萃取剂进行三段萃取,镍的萃取率为99.79%。这种钒镍回收的工艺流程不仅可以实现钒和镍的分离回收,而且可以实现试剂的循环利用。     

Co-reduction of Copper Smelting Slag and Nickel Laterite to Prepare Fe-Ni-Cu Alloy for Weathering Steel

In this study, a new technique was proposed for the economical and environmentally friendly recovery of valuable metals from copper smelting slag while simultaneously upgrading nickel laterite through a co-reduction followed by wet magnetic separation process. Copper slag with a high FeO content can decrease the liquidus temperature of the SiO₂-Al₂O₃-CaO-MgO system and facilitate formation of liquid phase in a co-reduction process with nickel laterite, which is beneficial for metallic particle growth. As a result, the recovery of Ni, Cu, and Fe was notably increased. A crude Fe-Ni-Cu alloy with 2.5% Ni, 1.1% Cu, and 87.9% Fe was produced, which can replace part of scrap steel, electrolytic copper, and nickel as the burden in the production of weathering steel by an electric arc furnace. The study further found that an appropriate proportion of copper slag and nickel laterite in the mixture is essential to enhance the reduction, acquire appropriate amounts of the liquid phase, and improve the growth of the metallic alloy grains. As a result, the liberation of alloy particles in the grinding process was effectively promoted and the metal recovery was increased significantly in the subsequent magnetic separation process.     

镍红土矿高压酸浸过程的金属元素浸出行为

以镍、钴的提取为目的,研究褐铁矿型镍红土矿高压酸浸过程中各金属元素的浸出行为,探讨硫酸加入量、浸出温度、浸出时间及液固比对各金属元素浸出率的影响.实验结果表明,在优化条件下Ni、Co、Mn和Mg的浸出率分别达到97%、96%、93%和95%以上,则Fe的浸出率小于1%.对高压浸出渣的分析表明,渣中的铁和硫主要分别以赤铁...     

红土镍矿钠盐还原焙烧-磁选的机理

配加钠盐焙烧可改善红土镍矿的还原-磁选效果,显著提高磁性产品的镍、铁品位及回收率。通过热力学计算,并结合X射线衍射、光学显微镜以及环境扫描电镜分析,对硫酸钠和碳酸钠作用下红土镍矿的还原行为进行研究。结果表明:钠盐在红土镍矿还原焙烧过程中,可以破坏硅酸盐矿物的结构,有利于镍的还原富集。碳酸钠强化镍还原的能力强于硫酸钠的,硫酸钠则因还原过程中形成的硫具有降低镍铁金属颗粒表面张力的作用,因而其促进镍铁颗粒聚集长大的能力明显高于碳酸钠的,且硫酸钠作用下FeS的形成也有利于提高镍的品位。所以,硫酸钠和碳酸钠的共同作用下可获得高镍品位的磁性产品及较高的镍回收率。     

Efficient enrichment of nickel and iron in laterite nickel ore by deep reduction and magnetic separation

The process of deep reduction and magnetic separation was proposed to enrich nickel and iron from laterite nickel ores. Results show that nickel–iron concentrates with nickel grade of 6.96%, nickel recovery of 94.06%, iron grade of 34.74%, and iron recovery of 80.44% could be obtained after magnetic separation under the conditions of reduction temperature of 1275 °C, reduction time of 50 min, slag basicity of 1.0, carbon-containing coefficient of 2.5, and magnetic field strength of 72 kA/m. Reduction temperature and time affected the possibility of deep reduction and reaction progress. Slag basicity affected the composition of slag in burden and the spilling and enriching rate of nickel–iron from a matrix to form nickel–iron particles. Nickel–iron particles were generated, aggregated, and grew gradually in the reduction process. Nickel–iron particles can be effectively separated from gangue minerals by magnetic separation.     

Recovery of Co（Ⅱ） and Ni（ Ⅱ） from hydrochloric acid solution of alloy scrap

A hydrometallurgical process was developed for recovery of nickel and cobalt from the hydrochloric acid leaching solution of alloy scraps. The process consists of five maj or unit operations： 1） leaching with 6 mol/L hydrochloric acid under the L/S ratio of 10：1 at 95 ℃ for 3 h; 2） copper replacement by iron scraps under pH value of 2.0 at 80 ℃, and stirring for 1 h, 3） removal of iron and chromium by chemical precipitation： iron removal under pH value of 2.0 at 90 ℃ by dropwise addition of sodium chlorate and 18% sodium carbonate solution, then chromium removal under pH value of 4.0 at 70 ℃ by addition of nickel carbonate solution, stirred by air flow for 2 h; 4） selective separation of cobalt from nickel by extraction using 30% trialkyl amine＋50% kerosene （volume fraction） and tri-n-butylphosphate （TBP） as a phase modifier with the O/A ratio of 2：1, and stripping of cobalt with 0.01 mol/L HCl; 5） crystallization of nickel chloride and electrodeposition of cobalt. It is found that the nickel recovery of 95% and the cobalt recovery of approximately 60% with purity over 99.9% are obtained by this process.     

Transformation and leaching kinetics of silicon from low-grade nickel laterite ore by pre-roasting and alkaline leaching process

The mineralogical phase transformation of a low-grade nickel laterite ore during pre-roasting process and the extraction of silicon during alkaline leaching process were investigated. The results indicate that the reaction activity of nickel ores is effectively improved by pre-roasting at 650 °C for 2 h, because of the transformation of lizardite into magnesium olivine and protoenstatite. When finely ground ore samples (44–61 μm) pre-roasted firstly react with sodium hydroxide solution (60 g/L) with a solid/liquid ratio of 1:5 at 140 °C for 120 min, the extraction of silicon can reach 89.89%, and the other valuable elements of magnesium, iron and nickel are accumulated in the solid residues. The leaching kinetics of nickel laterite ore can be described successfully by the diffusion through the product layer control model. The activation energy is calculated to be 11.63 kJ/mol and the kinetics equation can be expressed as 1–3(1–x)^2/3+2(1–x)=13.53×10^?2exp[–11.63/(RT)]t.     

On the nature of plasticity upon polymorphic transformations

The dilatometric method was used to study the deformation arising in iron and iron-nickel alloys containing up to 20% nickel upon the α → γ → α transformation cycles at a small compression load. At a constant load, a decrease in the heating rate leads to an increase in the dilatometric effect of the α → γ transformation by a factor of three, from a one third of the volume effect of transformation upon rapid heating to its full value upon slow heating. An inverse effect, i.e., a decrease in the degree of deformation that is developed upon the transformation, is caused by the alloying of iron with nickel. The anomalous plasticity observed upon the polymorphic transformation is related to the fact that the external stresses climinate spatial degeneration and produce a preferred direction for the relization of dimensional changes caused by the volume effect of transformation.     

Recovery of Mn^2＋, Co^2＋ and Ni^2＋ from manganese nodules by redox leaching and solvent extraction

The recovery of Mn, Co and Ni from deep-sea manganese nodules was conducted by acid oxidative leaching and solvent extraction. The results indicate that pyrrhotite used during leaching can effectively facilitate the leaching out of manganese, cobalt and nickel. The leaching behaviors of Mn, Ni and Co were determined and the influences of temperature, leaching time and sulphuric acid concentration on leaching rate were also investigated. Co and Ni are precipitated from the leaching liquor by adding sodium sulfide into solution with agitation for 2 h at 50 ℃, and the manganese sulphate is obtained by concentrating the resulting solution. By re-dissolving the precipitates of cobalt and nickel, the separation of cobalt and nickel is performed using di（2-ethylhexyl） phosphoric acid （D2EHPA） for impurities elimination with 8 stages at organic-to-aqueous（O/A） volume ratio of 3：5, and 2- ethylhexyl phosphonic acid mono-2-ethylhexyl ester （known as PC88A or P507） for cobalt extraction with 3 stages counter-current operations at O/A volume ratio of 2：3 followed by their scrubbings and strippings, respectively. The final maximum recovery rates for manganese, cobalt and nickel are 85%, 75% and 78%, respectively.     

还原酸浸法从低品位水钴矿中提取铜和钴

以Na2SO3为还原剂从水钴矿还原酸浸液中提取铜和钴,研究了还原剂种类及用量、浸出温度、硫酸浓度等因素对水钴矿还原酸浸过程中有价金属铜和钴浸出率的影响。结果表明,Na2SO3是较适宜的还原剂;在还原剂用量为水钴矿原矿质量的10%、硫酸浓度为3 mol/L、浸出温度为60℃、液固比为2-1、浸出时间为60 min的条件下,铜和钴的浸出率分别达99.06%和98.87%。并提出了"M5640萃铜→黄钠铁矾法除铁→碳酸钠除铝→氟化钠除钙、镁→蒸发结晶得钴产品"的后续分离净化流程,能有望应用于水钴矿及类似物料中有价金属的提取与分离的工业生产。     

某印尼低品位红土镍矿的微观结构及晶体化学(英文)

为深入研究红土镍矿的镍富集原理,利用电子显微镜、扫描电镜、X射线衍射分析以及电子探针微区分析对含镍0.97%的某印尼低品位红土镍矿的工艺矿物学进行研究,以了解镍钴有价金属的分布及赋存状态。实验表明:该矿样主要矿物为针铁矿(含量约为80%),镍含量约为0.87%;含镍、铁、镁的结晶水硅酸盐矿物((Mg,Fe,Ni)2SiO4)的含量约为15%,如利蛇纹石((Fe,Ni,Al)O(OH))和橄榄石((Mg,Fe,Ni)3Si2O5(OH))等,镍含量约在1.19%左右;其它含量较低的物相为赤铁矿、磁赤铁矿、铬铁矿和石英等,这些矿物的镍含量极低。钴土矿是含钴矿物,分析发现该矿物往往有较高的镍和钴含量。微观检测发现:红土镍矿微观结构复杂,不同矿物之间共生普遍,主要矿物的微观结构松散,因而传统选矿方式很难实现镍的富集。     

Nickel laterite technology—Finally a new dawn?

This paper describes progress made in nickel laterite technology since 1998, when high-pressure acid leaching, a low-cost method to recover nickel from laterite ores, was introduced in Western Australia. The article discusses developments in nickel laterite technology in relation to four essential factors: economic incentive, technology developments since 1998, corporate commitments since 1998, and challenges remaining. Michael G. King is director of metallurgical technology at Falconbridge Ltd. in Falconbridge, Canada.     

The activox® process: Growing significance in the nickel industry

Metal-market analysts project a global nickel supply gap which will be filled by further high-pressure acid leach treatment of laterite ores and the commercialization of hydrometallurgical refineries to recover nickel from sulfide ores. The Activox® process is one such hydrometallurgical technology developed to recover a range of base and precious metals from sulfide ores and concentrates. The combination of ultrafine grinding and oxidative leaching extracted and enabled the recovery of 96.2% nickel, 88.3% cobalt, and 82.9% copper in the 310 kg/h Tati Hydrometallurgical Demonstration Plant.     

Leaching of blended copper slag in microwave oven

Leaching of blended slag (BS) was investigated in a microwave oven using hydrogen peroxide and acetic acid. The BS was a mixture of converter and flash furnace slag containing 51% Fe₂O₃, 3.8% CuO, and 3.2% ZnO. The important variables that influence the metal extraction yield were leaching time, liquid-solid ratio, H₂O₂ and CH₃COOH concentrations. The preferred leaching conditions were as follows: CH₃COOH concentration 4 mol/L; H₂O₂ concentration 4 mol/L; microwave power 900 W; leaching time 30 min; liquid-solid ratio 25 mL/g BS; leaching temperature 100 °C. Under these conditions, the metal extractions of 95% Cu, 1.6% Fe, and 30% Zn were obtained. The results were compared with the traditional leaching results. It is evident that microwave heating causes a reduction in the leaching time. Also, the extraction yield results indicate that selective leaching of BS can be achieved under the preferred conditions. The dissolution kinetic of BS in hydrogen peroxide with acetic acid is controlled by a shrinking unreacted core model equation. The apparent activation energy and reaction order were found to be 16.64 kJ/mol and 1.09, respectively.     

Copper and elemental sulphur from chalcopyrite by pressure leaching

Processes employing direct oxidation under an over-pressure of air or oxygen in an aqueous sulphuric acid medium have been developed in the Sherritt Gordon Laboratories for iron, nickel, cobalt, zinc and lead sulphide concentrates. This study has recently also been extended to chalcocite, Cu₂S, concentrates. The rising interest in processes employing direct aqueous oxidation is stimulated by the fact that elemental sulphur can be produced as a by-product rather than sulphur dioxide or sulphuric acid.The present paper outlines a process which features the direct pressure oxidation of the most abundant copper sulphide mineral, chalcopyrite, CuFeS₂. The optimum conditions for a practical pressure leaching step have now been developed in the laboratory which results in the production of copper sulphate solution suitable for copper winninq by electrolysis, hydrogen reduction, solvent extraction combined with electrolysis, or other means. The leach residue yields pure elemental sulphur by-product. Copper and elemental sulphur recoveries of 98 and 85% respectively have been recorded. The fastest oxidation rate, corresponding to a leach retention time of 2.5 hr, was obtained when the copper concentrate was ground to 99.5% — 325 mesh, when a 50% stoichiometric excess of concentrate over the amount of available sulphuric acid for copper was used and when the oxygen partial pressure and temperature were maintained at 500 psi and 240°F, respectively. In an idealized form, the pressure leaching reaction can be expressed as follows:—CuFeS₂ + H₂SO₄ + 1 1/40₂ + 1/2H₂O → CuSO₄ + Fe(OH)₃ + 2S°After separation of the copper sulphate solution by filtration, elemental sulphur and excess concentrate ore recovered from the iron oxide tailing by flotation. The tailing, containing iron oxide and insolubles, is rejected. The elemental sulphur is separated from the concentrate by hot filtration, solvent extraction, distillation, or other means, and the unleached chalcopyrite is recycled to the leaching step.     

低品位红土镍矿深度还原机理

采用扫描电子显微镜和EDS能谱研究低品位红土镍矿深度还原过程中金属颗粒的生长行为,并在此基础上分析其还原机理。结果表明,金属铁和镍逐渐聚集生长为Fe—Ni颗粒,并且颗粒粒度随着还原温度的升高和还原时间的延长而明显增大。还原后,红土镍矿明显变为Fe—Ni金属颗粒和渣相基体两部分。铁镁橄榄石的还原与其晶体化学特性密切相关。铁和镍的氧化物被还原剂还原为金属铁和镍,同时,橄榄石的晶格结构被破坏。红土镍矿深度还原包含金属氧化物还原和金属相生长两个过程。     

Recovery of valuable metals from anode material of hydrogen-nickel battery

Simultaneous recovery of rare earth, nickel and cobalt resources from the anode material of hydrogen-nickel battery was performed through a hydrometallurgical process. Most of rare earth elements are separated from nickel and cobalt in the form of sulfates when the anode material is firstly leached with sulfuric acid. Then, the precipitated rare earth sulfates are dissolved with sodium hydroxide to form rare earth hydroxides. The rare earth element, zinc and manganese ions in the lixivium are also separated from nickel and cobalt by using PC-88A extractant system, and the organic phase loaded rare earth is stripped with hydrochloric acid. By neutralizing the stripping solution with rare earth hydroxide, the rare earth chloride is obtained. Under the suitable leaching conditions of sulfuric acid 3 mol/L, leaching time 4 h and temperature 95 ℃, 94.5% of rare earth in the anode material is transformed into the sulfate precipitates, and the leaching ratios of nickel and cobalt can approach 99.5%. When the pH value of the extractive system is controlled in the range of 3.0-3.5, the rare earth elements in the lixivium can be extracted completely into the organic phase, and the stripping recovery of the rare earth can reach 98% in the extraction stage. The total recoveries of rare earth, nickel and cobalt are 98.9%, 98.4% and 98.5%, respectively.     

Direct carbothermic reduction of ilmenite concentrates by adding high dosage of Na2CO3 in microwave field

A clean and efficient route for the utilization of ilmenite concentrates was proposed by direct carbothermic reduction in microwave field. High dosage of Na₂CO₃, which can be recycled, was added to accelerate the reduction reaction of ilmenite concentrates. After microwave heating in the temperature range of 1073?1123 K for 20 min, the main products were Na₂TiO₃ and metallic Fe with the metallization ratios being as high as 92.67%?93.21%. The reduction products were processed by water leaching, ball-milling in CO₂ atmosphere and magnetic separation in turn. The final products after magnetic separation were Fe-rich materials and Ti-rich materials (90.04 wt.% TiO₂), which can be used to produce iron and TiCl₄ or TiO₂. The optimized heating temperature was 1123 K in terms of metallization ratios, magnetic separation and caking property of the reduction products. Besides, the reduction mechanism of ilmenite concentrates with the addition of Na₂CO₃ in microwave field was also proposed.