Hydrometallurgical process and recovery of valuable elements for limonitic laterite: A review

doi:10.1016/j.cjche.2024.05.011

Abstract

Abstract: Nickel is a strategic resource in social life and defense technology, playing an essential role in many fields, such as alloys and batteries. With the decrease in nickel sulfide, it is of great significance to extract nickel from laterite. The limonitic laterite is a kind of rich nickel-cobalt-scandium resource. At present, there are few reviews on the extraction of limonitic laterite. This study reviews the hydrometallurgical processes for limonitic laterite ores and the methods of recovering valuable elements. The mineralogical characteristics are analyzed, and the typical mineral compositions are summarized. The main hydrometallurgical processes are compared and discussed, including reduction roasting-ammonia leaching, sulfuric acid pressure leaching, nitric acid pressure leaching, and the atmospheric nitric acid leaching (DNi process). The methods of recovering nickel, cobalt, scandium, and iron are emphatically outlined. Finally, reasonable suggestions are proposed for comprehensive utilization. This study can provide a reference for industrial development and diversified applications.

Key words: Limonitic laterite, Hydrometallurgy, Comprehensive utilization, Leaching, Recovery, Chemical processes

摘要： Nickel is a strategic resource in social life and defense technology, playing an essential role in many fields, such as alloys and batteries. With the decrease in nickel sulfide, it is of great significance to extract nickel from laterite. The limonitic laterite is a kind of rich nickel-cobalt-scandium resource. At present, there are few reviews on the extraction of limonitic laterite. This study reviews the hydrometallurgical processes for limonitic laterite ores and the methods of recovering valuable elements. The mineralogical characteristics are analyzed, and the typical mineral compositions are summarized. The main hydrometallurgical processes are compared and discussed, including reduction roasting-ammonia leaching, sulfuric acid pressure leaching, nitric acid pressure leaching, and the atmospheric nitric acid leaching (DNi process). The methods of recovering nickel, cobalt, scandium, and iron are emphatically outlined. Finally, reasonable suggestions are proposed for comprehensive utilization. This study can provide a reference for industrial development and diversified applications.

关键词: Limonitic laterite, Hydrometallurgy, Comprehensive utilization, Leaching, Recovery, Chemical processes

Xinglong Xiong, Baozhong Ma, Xiang Li, Jiancheng Yu, Longfei Shi, Chengyan Wang, Yongqiang Chen. Hydrometallurgical process and recovery of valuable elements for limonitic laterite: A review[J]. Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering, 2024, 73(9): 189-201.

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