Distribution of nickel between copper-nickel and alumina saturated iron silicate slags

The solubility of nickel in slag was determined by equilibrating copper-nickel alloys with alumina-saturated iron silicate slags in an alumina crucible at 1573 K. The experiments were carried out under controlled oxygen partial pressures in the range of 10^-10 to 10^-8 atm by use of suitable CO-CO₂ gas mixtures, and at Fe/SiO₂ ratio 1.34. The results showed that nickel dissolves in slag both as Ni²⁺ (nickel oxide) and Ni‡ (nickel metal), and the relation obtained was: (Wt pct Ni in slag) = (ie33-01) The activity coefficient of nickel oxide (γ^dgNio) and distribution coefficient of nickel (A_Ni) is calculated to be 0.375 and 233.3, respectively. γ^dgNio and A_Ni are found to be independent of oxygen partial pressures. The presence of alumina increases the solubility of nickel in slags.