Nickel and magnesia recovery from laterites by low temperature self-sulfation
US4125588A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 1, 1977 |
| Grant date | Nov 14, 1978 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 1, 1997 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P10/20
- WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A process for recovering iron, nickel and magnesium metal from low grade nickeliferrous ores is described. This process which requires little energy input comprises the steps of PA1 (a) grinding the ore to reduce the particle size of the ore, PA1 (b) preparing a slurry of the ground ore in sulfuric acid containing less than ten percent of water, PA1 (c) adding water to the acid:ore slurry in an amount which is effective to initiate a sulfation reaction, PA1 (d) allowing the sulfation reaction to continue utilizing the heat of the sulfation reaction, whereby water-soluble metal sulfates are formed, PA1 (e) leaching the sulfation product with water to extract the water-soluble salts of iron, nickel and magnesium from the insoluble residue, and PA1 (f) recovering the nickel, magnesium and iron from the leach solution. The desired metals which are recovered in this manner contain significantly reduced levels of undesirable silica.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.