摘要:
A process is provided for the leaching of both the 'limonite' (Fe approx. ≥ 25 % and Mg approx. ≤ 6 %) and 'saprolite' (Fe approx. ≤ 20 % and Mg approx. ≥ 10 %) fractions of typical nickel and cobalt bearing laterite ore. The low magnesium fraction of the laterite ore is leached with sulfuric acid at high pressure and temperature to solubilize the metal values while precipitating most of the solubilized iron as hematite or other iron compounds and a portion of the dissolved aluminum as alunite or other aluminum compounds. After reducing the pressure of the leach slurry to approximately atmospheric pressure, the pregnant leach slurry or solution is contacted with the high magnesium fraction of the ore to solubilize most of the nickel contained in the high-magnesium ore fraction while dissolving only a small portion of the iron content of the high magnesium ore fraction. Further neutralization of the leach slurry in the presence of an alkali metal or ammonium ion will allow the precipitation of iron-bearing jarosite at ambient pressure. This process for incorporating the leaching of saprolite in the high pressure leaching process for limonite ores requires neither high temperature and pressure, nor special treatment of the saprolite ore fraction, nor the addition of special reagents, e.g. reducing reagents.
摘要:
A process is provided for the leaching of both the "limonite" (Fe approx. ≥ 25 % and Mg approx. ≤ 6 %) and "saprolite" (Fe approx. ≤ 20 % and Mg approx. ≥ 10 %) fractions of typical nickel and cobalt bearing laterite ore. The low magnesium fraction of the laterite ore is leached with sulfuric acid at high pressure and temperature to solubilize the metal values while precipitating most of the solubilized iron as hematite or other iron compounds and a portion of the dissolved aluminum as alunite or other aluminum compounds. After reducing the pressure of the leach slurry to approximately atmospheric pressure, the pregnant leach slurry or solution is contacted with the high magnesium fraction of the ore to solubilize most of the nickel contained in the high-magnesium ore fraction while dissolving only a small portion of the iron content of the high magnesium ore fraction. Further neutralization of the leach slurry in the presence of an alkali metal or ammonium ion will allow the precipitation of iron-bearing jarosite at ambient pressure. This process for incorporating the leaching of saprolite in the high pressure leaching process for limonite ores requires neither high temperature and pressure, nor special treatment of the saprolite ore fraction, nor the addition of special reagents, e.g. reducing reagents.
摘要:
A process is provided for leaching nickeliferous laterite ores by hydrometallurgical methods at temperatures below the boiling point of the pulp and at atmospheric pressure from which high overall nickel and cobalt extractions are obtained. The high iron fraction of the laterite, referred to as limonite, is first contacted with a concentrated mineral acid to partially or completely dissolve the iron and nickel in solution. During this process, a reducing agent is used to keep the redox potential in solution below 1000 mV to enhance cobalt dissolution and more advantageously between 1000 and 900 mV to avoid reduction of ferric iron. Further mixing of the leach slurry in the presence of sodium, potassium, or ammonium will allow the formation of iron jarosite at ambient pressure. The resulting acid from iron hydrolysis is neutralized with the low iron fraction of the laterite ore (saprolite) dissolving nickel into solution. The resulting slurry can then be treated with conventional methods to recover nickel and cobalt from solution.