Nickel and Cobalt Production

Author

Michael S. Moats, Missouri University of Science and TechnologyFollow
William G. Davenport

Abstract

The production of nickel and cobalt from primary sources involves beneficiation, and hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical processing. Nickel is recovered from lateritic oxides either as ferronickel from saprolite ores or as an intermediate mixed sulfide or hydroxides from limonite ores. Sulfide ores are converted into matte. Intermediate products are refined into high-purity nickel. Cobalt in nickel ores is recovered during refining. A majority of cobalt is now produced from copper-cobalt ores in central Africa as an intermediate product, which is sent to existing cobalt refineries. Recycling of nickel and cobalt also occurs at significant levels through the reuse of alloy materials.

Recommended Citation

M. S. Moats and W. G. Davenport, "Nickel and Cobalt Production," Treatise on Process Metallurgy, vol. 3, pp. 625 - 669, Elsevier Ltd., Jan 2014.

The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-096988-6.00026-2

Department(s)

Materials Science and Engineering

Comments

Chapter 2.2 of Volume 3: Industrial Processes

Keywords and Phrases

Carbonyl; Cobalt; Converting; Electrowinning; Ferronickel; Flotation; Hydrogen reduction; Laterite; Leaching; Matte; Nickel; Precipitation; Recycling; Smelting; Solvent extraction; Sulfide; Upgrading

International Standard Book Number (ISBN)

978-008096988-6

Document Type

Book - Chapter

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2014 Elsevier Ltd., All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jan 2014