Objective
The research results derived for the two methods tested, the Heap Leaching Process and the SERVO Process, clearly showed that the former is suitable to treat economically the haematitic and limonitic laterites, whereas the latter can treat the serpentinic laterites.
The proposed research is directed at developing an integrated metallurgical process on a laboratory scale, hydrometallurgical or pyrometallurgical, for the extraction and recovery of nickel and cobalt from limonitic and serpentinic laterites. Existing pyrometallurgical methods suffer from high energy consumption whereas the cheaper hydrometallurgical ones cannot treat economically the serpentinic laterites. The major research tasks are :
a. Ore characterisation and separation
b. Heap leaching of ore with sulphuric acid at ambient temperature
c. Pregnant leach liquor purification and recovery of nickel and cobalt.
d. Selective extraction, separation and recovery of nickel and cobalt using the SERVO process.
e. Tailings disposal and effluent treatment.
f. Processes definition
g. Conceptual plant design-preliminary economic analysis of the processes under investigation-process selection
It is anticipated that successful completion of the project will result in a more economical, more competitive and environmentally safer metallurgical method than the existing ones for serpentinic and limonitic laterites
Topic(s)
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinator
11474 Athens
Greece
Participants (2)
4800 Guimaraes
AL10 9AB Hatfield