HYDROMETALLURGICAL PROCESSING OF NICKEL LATERITES- A BRIEF OVERVIEW ON THE USE OF SOLVENT EXTRACTION AND NICKEL/COBALT PROJECT FOR THE SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION OF NICKEL AND COBALT

Öz

In this study, a brief overview of the solvent extraction (SX) application for the separation

and purification of nickel and cobalt in hydrometallurgical processing of laterite nickel ores is

presented. This paper consists of two parts: firstly, the SX of nickel and cobalt from sulphate

leach solutions is described; and secondly, the development of hydrometallurgical plants for

the processing of laterite nickel ores that involve solvent extraction technique is discussed. The

most important extractants are shortly given in the first part of the study. It is seen that the

extraction and separation of nickel and cobalt from the impure leach solution of laterite nickel

ores can be performed by either using a single extractant system that is called as a direct solvent

extraction (DSX) or a mixture of two or more extractant which is known as a synergistic solvent

extraction system (SSX). Mixed sulphide precipitation (MSP) and mixed hydroxide precipitation

(MHP) processes are mentioned. This paper is also addressed advantage and disadvantages of

each extraction system. It is shown that capital investment expenditure, operational investment

expenditure and mineralogical content are the most important factors that can affect the selection

of the appropriate hydrometallurgical process for lateritic nickel ore.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Laterite,Nickel,Cobalt,Purification,Solvent extraction

NİKEL LATERİTLERİN HİDROMETALURJİK İŞLEMİ-NİKEL VE KOBALT AYIRIM VE SAFLAŞTIRMASI İÇİN SOLVENT EKSTRAKSİYON KULLANIMI VE NİKEL KOBALT PROJELERİNE KISA BİR BAKIŞ

Öz

Bu çalışmada, lateritik nikel cevherlerinin hidrometalurjik işlemlerinde nikel ve kobalt ayırma

ve saflaştırılmasında kullanılan solvent ekstraksiyon (SX) yöntemi için kısa bir değerlendirme

yapılmıştır. Bu çalışma iki bölümden oluşmaktadır. Sülfat liç çözeltilerinden nikel ve kobalt solvent

ekstraksiyonu ilk olarak tanımlanmıştır. Solvent ekstraksiyon tekniğinin bulunduğu lateritik nikel

cevherlerinin işletimi için geliştirilen hidrometalurji tesisler ikinci olarak tartışılmıştır. En önemli

ekstraktantlar ilk bölümde kısaca verilmiştir. Laterit liç çözeltisinde bulunan safsızlıklardan nikel

ve kobalt ayırma ve saflaştırma işlemi ya tekli ekstraktant sistemi olarak adlandırılan direkt solvent

ekstraksiyon (DSX) ya da iki veya daha fazla ekstraktant karışımından oluşan sinerjistik solvent

ekstraksiyon (SSX) yöntemleriyle gerçekleştirilebileceği görülmüştür. Karışık sülfür çökeleği

(MSP) ve karışık hidroksit çökeleği (MHP) işlemlerinden bahsedilmiştir. Bu makale aynı zamanda

her bir ekstraksiyon sisteminin avantaj ve dezavantajlarını ele almaktadır. İlk yatırım maliyeti,

işlem maliyeti ve minerolojik yapının lateritik nikel cevheri için uygun bir hidrometalurjik yöntem

seçimini etkileyebilen en önemli faktörler olduğu görülmüştür.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Laterit,Nikel,Kobalt,Saflaştırma,Solvent ekstraksiyon

Kaynakça

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