Nickel Extraction from Olivine: Effect of Carbonation Pre-Treatment †

Metals

Rafael M. Santos³  Aldo Van Audenaerde⁴  Yi Wai Chiang²  Remus I. Iacobescu⁶  Pol Knops¹  Tom Van Gerven⁴  Suresh Bhargava⁵ 

[1] Innovation Concepts B.V., Twello 7391MG, The Netherlands; E-Mail:;School of Engineering, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada; E-Mail:;School of Applied Chemical and Environmental Sciences, Sheridan Institute of Technology, Brampton, ON L6Y 5H9, Canada;Department of Chemical Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven 3001, Belgium; E-Mails:;id="af1-metals-05-01620">1School of Applied Chemical and Environmental Sciences, Sheridan Institute of Technology, Brampton, ON L6Y 5H9, Cana;Department of Materials Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven 3001, Belgium; E-Mail:

关键词: nickel;    olivine;    mineral carbonation;    leaching;    ferro-magnesite;    colloidal silica;   

DOI  :  10.3390/met5031620

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

In this work, we explore a novel mineral processing approach using carbon dioxide to promote mineral alterations that lead to improved extractability of nickel from olivine ((Mg,Fe)₂SiO₄). The precept is that by altering the morphology and the mineralogy of the ore via mineral carbonation, the comminution requirements and the acid consumption during hydrometallurgical processing can be reduced. Furthermore, carbonation pre-treatment can lead to mineral liberation and concentration of metals in physically separable phases. In a first processing step, olivine is fully carbonated at high CO₂ partial pressures (35 bar) and optimal temperature (200 °C) with the addition of pH buffering agents. This leads to a powdery product containing high carbonate content. The main products of the carbonation reaction include quasi-amorphous colloidal silica, chromium-rich metallic particles, and ferro-magnesite ((Mg_1−x,Fe_x)CO₃). Carbonated olivine was subsequently leached using an array of inorganic and organic acids to test their leaching efficiency. Compared to leaching from untreated olivine, the percentage of nickel extracted from carbonated olivine by acid leaching was significantly increased. It is anticipated that the mineral carbonation pre-treatment approach may also be applicable to other ultrabasic and lateritic ores.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.