Efficient and selective recovery of Ni, Cu, and Co from low-nickel matte via a hydrometallurgical process

Guang-ju Chen; Jian-ming Gao; Mei Zhang; Min Guo

doi:10.1007/s12613-017-1402-9

Volume 24 Issue 3

Mar. 2017

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Article Navigation > International Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials > 2017 > 24(3): 249-256

Guang-ju Chen, Jian-ming Gao, Mei Zhang, and Min Guo, Efficient and selective recovery of Ni, Cu, and Co from low-nickel matte via a hydrometallurgical process, Int. J. Miner. Metall. Mater., 24(2017), No. 3, pp. 249-256. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-017-1402-9

Cite this article as:

Guang-ju Chen, Jian-ming Gao, Mei Zhang, and Min Guo, Efficient and selective recovery of Ni, Cu, and Co from low-nickel matte via a hydrometallurgical process, Int. J. Miner. Metall. Mater., 24(2017), No. 3, pp. 249-256. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-017-1402-9

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Research Article

Efficient and selective recovery of Ni, Cu, and Co from low-nickel matte via a hydrometallurgical process

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Corresponding author:
Min Guo E-mail: guomin@ustb.edu.cn
Received: 29 April 2016; Revised: 24 October 2016; Accepted: 26 October 2016

Abstract

Abstract

Low-nickel matte was intensively characterized, and Ni, Cu, and Co were determined to exist mainly as (Fe,Ni)₉S₈ and FeNi₃, Cu₅FeS₄, and (Fe,Ni)₉S₈ and Fe₃O₄ (in isomorphic form), respectively. The efficient and selective extraction of Ni, Cu, and Co from the low-nickel matte in an (NH₄)₂S₂O₈/NH₃·H₂O solution system was studied. The effects of (NH₄)₂S₂O₈ and NH₃·H₂O concentrations, leaching time, and leaching temperature on the metal extraction efficiency were systematically investigated. During the oxidative ammonia leaching process, the metal extraction efficiencies of Ni 81.07%, Cu 93.81%, and Co 71.74% were obtained under the optimal conditions. The relatively low leaching efficiency of Ni was mainly ascribed to NiFe alloy deactivation in ammonia solution. By introducing an acid pre-leaching process into the oxidative ammonia leaching process, we achieved the high extraction efficiencies of 98.03%, 99.13%, and 85.60% for the valuable metals Ni, Cu, and Co, respectively, from the low-nickel matte.
- matte;
- leaching;
- extraction;
- nickel;
- copper;
- cobalt

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