Mechanism of Mg<sup>2+</sup> dissolution from olivine and serpentine: Implication for bioleaching of high-magnesium nickel sulfide ore at elevated pH

Jian-zhi Sun; Jian-kang Wen; Bo-wei Chen; Biao Wu

doi:10.1007/s12613-019-1823-8

Volume 26 Issue 9

Sep. 2019

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Article Navigation > International Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials > 2019 > 26(9): 1069-1079

Jian-zhi Sun, Jian-kang Wen, Bo-wei Chen, and Biao Wu, Mechanism of Mg²⁺ dissolution from olivine and serpentine: Implication for bioleaching of high-magnesium nickel sulfide ore at elevated pH, Int. J. Miner. Metall. Mater., 26(2019), No. 9, pp. 1069-1079. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-019-1823-8

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Jian-zhi Sun, Jian-kang Wen, Bo-wei Chen, and Biao Wu, Mechanism of Mg2+ dissolution from olivine and serpentine: Implication for bioleaching of high-magnesium nickel sulfide ore at elevated pH, Int. J. Miner. Metall. Mater., 26(2019), No. 9, pp. 1069-1079. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-019-1823-8

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Research Article

Mechanism of Mg²⁺ dissolution from olivine and serpentine: Implication for bioleaching of high-magnesium nickel sulfide ore at elevated pH

+ Author Affiliations

Corresponding author:
Jian-kang Wen E-mail: kang3412@126.com
Received: 23 October 2018; Revised: 7 January 2019; Accepted: 11 January 2019

Abstract

Abstract

To inhibit the dissolution of Mg²⁺ during the bioleaching process of high-magnesium nickel sulfide ore, the effect of major bioleaching factors on the dissolution of Mg²⁺ from olivine and serpentine was investigated and kinetics studies were carried out. The results indicated that the dissolution rate-controlling steps are chemical reaction for olivine and internal diffusion for serpentine. The most influential factor on the dissolution of Mg²⁺ from olivine and serpentine was temperature, followed by pH and particle size. A novel method of bioleaching at elevated pH was used in the bioleaching of Jinchuan ore. The results showed that elevated pH could significantly reduce the dissolution of Mg²⁺ and acid consumption along with slightly influencing the leaching efficiencies of nickel and cobalt. A model was used to explain the leaching behaviors of high-magnesium nickel sulfide ore in different bioleaching systems. The model suggested that olivine will be depleted eventually, whereas serpentine will remain because of the difference in the rate-controlling steps. Bioleaching at elevated pH is a suitable method for treating high-magnesium nickel sulfide ores.
- olivine;
- serpentine;
- high-magnesium nickel sulfide ore;
- bioleaching;
- shrinking core model;
- elevated pH

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