Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Characteristics of Leaching of Nickel from a Mafic Overburden in Sulfuric Acid and Sodium Chloride Medium at Atmospheric Pressure

  • Rare Metal Recovery from Secondary Resources
  • Published:
JOM Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The characteristics of leaching of a Ni mafic overburden using H2SO4 with addition of NaCl at 25°C to 90°C and 10% to 35% solids have been studied. The overburden containing hornblende, chlorite, plagioclase, quartz, and calcite was crushed, ground to − 75 µm, and leached for 480 min under stirring at a rate of 200 rpm. Three leaching tests were conducted: (1) in 4 M H2SO4, (2) in 4 M H2SO4 + 3.5% NaCl (per dry ore sample mass), and (3) after preconditioning for 24 h in 4 M H2SO4 + 3.5% NaCl prior to leaching. Maximum Ni extraction of 46.52% was achieved when using 4 M H2SO4 at 90°C and 35% solids. Under similar conditions, leaching and preconditioning in 4 M H2SO4 + 3.5% NaCl produced 20.93% and 13.44% Ni, respectively. Addition of NaCl increased the Fe dissolution while decreasing that of Mg. X-ray diffraction analysis suggested that Ni was extracted from chlorite followed by hornblende.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. R.M. Santos, A.V. Audenaerde, Y.W. Chiang, and R.I. Iacobescu, Metals 5, 1620 (2015).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Y. Li, Y. Li, Y.Zhang Gao, and Z. Chen, Int. J. Miner. Process. 148, 23 (2016).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. S. Suárez, F. Nieto, F. Velasco, and F. Martin, Eur. J. Mineral. 23, 179 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. P.T. O’Kane, Int. Laterite Symp. [Proc.] 503 (1979).

  5. J. MacCarthy, A. Nosrati, W. Skinner, and J. Addai-Mensah, Miner. Eng. 77, 52 (2015).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. T.T. Chen, J.E. Dutrizac, E. Krause, and R. Osborne, Int. Laterite Symp. [Proc.] 79 (2004).

  7. R.C. Merrit, Miner. Eng. 69, 154 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  8. F. Habashi, Textbook of Hydrometallurgy (Métallurgie Extractive Québec, 1999).

  9. S. K. Jain, Mineral Processing., 2nd ed (Co-CBS, 2016).

  10. T. Agacayak, A. Aras, S. Aydogan, and M. Erdemoglu, Physicochem. Probl. Miner. Process. 50, 657 (2014).

    Google Scholar 

  11. R. Appleyard, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand, unpublished research (Thesis) (1974).

  12. T. Agacayak and V. Zedef, Acta Montan. Slovaca 17, 33 (2012).

    Google Scholar 

  13. W. Astuti, T. Hirajima, K. Sasaki, and N. Okibe, Hydrometallurgy 161, 138 (2016).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. S.B. Shen, X.F. Hao, and G.W. Yang, J. Alloys Compd. 1–2, 653 (2009).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. B. Harris, C. White, M. Jansen, and D. Pursell, ALTA Ni-Co 11 (Western Australia: Perth, 2006).

    Google Scholar 

  16. D. Flett, CIM Bull. 95, 95 (2002).

    Google Scholar 

  17. Ahmad, W. “Nickel laterites—Fundamentals of chemistry, mineralogy, weathering processes, formation, and exploration”. VALE Inco-VITSL. Available online: http://www.scribd.com/doc/83755762/Nickel-Laterites-Vale-Inco-Oct-2008. Accessed 7 July 2012.

  18. J. P. Rafferty, Rocks (Britannica Educational, 2012).

  19. C.K. Thubakgale, Tshwane University of Technology, Gauteng, South Africa, unpublished research (thesis), 2013.

  20. B.I. Whittington, R.G. McDonald, J.A. Johnson, and D.M. Muir, Hydrometallurgy 70, 31 (2003).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. X. Guo, W. Shi, L. Dong, and Q. Trans, Nonferrous Met. Soc. China 21, 191 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. P. Zhang, Q. Guo, G. Wei, L. Meng, L. Han, J. Qu, and T. Qi, J. Cleaner Prod. 112, 3531 (2016).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. J. MacCarthy, J. Addai-Mensah, and A. Nosrati, Miner. Eng. 69, 154 (2014).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. R. Hirasawa and H. Horita, Int. J. Miner. Process. 19, 273 (1987).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. B.I. Whittington and J.A. Johnson, Hydrometallurgy 78, 256 (2005).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. S. Agatzini-Leonardou and I.G. Zafiratos, Hydrometallurgy 74, 267 (2004).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. J.H. Canterford, Australasia Inst. Min. Metall. [Proc.] 265, 19 (1978).

  28. W. Luo, Q. Feng, L. Ou, G. Zhang, and Y. Chen, Miner. Eng. 23, 458 (2010).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. B. Naglik, L. Natkaniec-Nowak, and W. Heflik, Geol. Geophys. Environ. 42, 161 (2016).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. R. Fan and R. Gerson, Hydrometallurgy 134–135, 102 (2013).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. P.K. Swain, G.R. Chaudhury, and L.B. Sukla, Korean J. Chem. Eng. 24, 932 (2007).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. J. Luo, G. Li, M. Rao, Z. Peng, Y. Zhang, and T. Jiang, Miner. Eng. 78, 38 (2015).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. I. Girgin, A. Obut, and A. Ucyildiz, Miner. Eng. 24, 603 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. J.E. Brydon and G.J. Ross, Soil Sci. Soc. Am. Proc. 30, 740 (1966).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. G.J. Ross, Can. J. Chem. 45, 3031 (1967).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. G.J. Ross, Can. Mineral. 9, 522 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Metallurgical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Vaal University of Technology, Vanderbijlpark Campus, Private Bag X021, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa

    Catherine K. Thubakgale

  2. Department of Chemical, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria Campus, Private Bag X680, Pretoria, South Africa

    Catherine K. Thubakgale, Richard K. K. Mbaya & Mxolisi B. Shongwe

Authors
  1. Catherine K. Thubakgale
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Richard K. K. Mbaya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mxolisi B. Shongwe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Catherine K. Thubakgale.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Thubakgale, C.K., Mbaya, R.K.K. & Shongwe, M.B. Characteristics of Leaching of Nickel from a Mafic Overburden in Sulfuric Acid and Sodium Chloride Medium at Atmospheric Pressure. JOM 71, 4616–4623 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-019-03824-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-019-03824-x

Search

Navigation