Nickel and Cobalt

Abstract

The primary processing of nickel and cobalt is complex, and many routes are taken to produce a salable product. These routes depend upon the original ore and the technology expertise and existing capacity of the producer. Nickel and cobalt often occur together in either laterite or sulfide ores. These ore types are processed differently. Sulfide ores are amendable to mineral beneficiation. Comminution followed by flotation produces an enriched mineral concentrate. Sulfide concentrates are typically treated by smelting and converting to produce a nickel rich matte. Matte is processed by pressure acid leaching, chlorine leaching, carbonyl refining, and electrorefining. If leaching is employed, then solution purification occurs by solvent extraction prior to high purity metal production by electrowinning or hydrogen reduction. Carbonyl refining requires prior production of impure nickel metal from the matte. Laterite ores are processed depending on their composition. Saprolite ore is processed pyrometallurgically to produce ferronickel by dewatering, calcining with carbon and reducing in an electric furnace. Small amounts of matte are also produced from saprolite and refined with mattes from sulfide processing. Limonite ores are typically processed by hydrometallurgical methods due to their high Fe and low Mg content. High temperature/pressure leaching produces a pregnant leach solution containing soluble nickel and cobalt. Mixed metal hydroxide or sulfide precipitates are produced from the leach solution. The precipitates are refined using hydrometallurgical processes like those employed in sulfide matte refining. Limonite ores can also be processed through a pyro/hydrometallurgical route called the Caron process. Significant recycling of nickel and cobalt occurs. Most recycling involves the reuse of alloy materials. Recycling reduces the depletion of natural resources and consumes less energy than primary production.

Department(s)

Materials Science and Engineering

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)

978-032385373-6;978-032385896-0

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2024 Elsevier, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jan 2024

Link to Full Text

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