Factors Affecting the Upgrading of a Nickeliferous Limonitic Laterite Ore by Reduction Roasting, Thermal Growth and Magnetic Separation
There is considerable interest in the development of new processes to extract the nickel from the oxidic nickeliferous laterite deposits, as the global nickel sulphide resources are rapidly becoming more difficult to access. In comparison to sulphide ores, where the nickel-containing mineral can be...
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doaj-d56ed2989dee40a2abffd226a34bd1d22020-11-25T00:55:09ZengMDPI AGMinerals2075-163X2017-09-017917610.3390/min7090176min7090176Factors Affecting the Upgrading of a Nickeliferous Limonitic Laterite Ore by Reduction Roasting, Thermal Growth and Magnetic SeparationFilipe Rodrigues0Christopher A. Pickles1John Peacey2Richard Elliott3John Forster4The Robert M. Buchan Department of Mining, Queens’s University, Kingston, ON K7L3N6, CanadaThe Robert M. Buchan Department of Mining, Queens’s University, Kingston, ON K7L3N6, CanadaThe Robert M. Buchan Department of Mining, Queens’s University, Kingston, ON K7L3N6, CanadaThe Robert M. Buchan Department of Mining, Queens’s University, Kingston, ON K7L3N6, CanadaThe Robert M. Buchan Department of Mining, Queens’s University, Kingston, ON K7L3N6, CanadaThere is considerable interest in the development of new processes to extract the nickel from the oxidic nickeliferous laterite deposits, as the global nickel sulphide resources are rapidly becoming more difficult to access. In comparison to sulphide ores, where the nickel-containing mineral can be readily concentrated by flotation, nickel laterites are not amenable to significant upgrading, due to their complex mineralogy. In this paper, firstly, a brief overview of the conventional techniques used to process the nickeliferous limonitic laterites is given, as well as a review of current research in the area. Secondly, a thermodynamic model is developed to simulate the roasting process and to aid in the selection of process parameters to maximize the nickel recovery and grade and also to minimize the magnetite content of the concentrate. Thirdly, a two-stage process involving reduction roasting and thermal growth in either a tube furnace or a rotary kiln furnace, followed by magnetic separation, was investigated. Thermogravimetric, differential thermal and mineral liberation analyses techniques were utilized to further understand the process. Finally, the nickel grades and recovery results were compared to those available in the literature.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/7/9/176lateriteslimonitenickelreduction roastingmagnetic separation |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Filipe Rodrigues Christopher A. Pickles John Peacey Richard Elliott John Forster |
spellingShingle |
Filipe Rodrigues Christopher A. Pickles John Peacey Richard Elliott John Forster Factors Affecting the Upgrading of a Nickeliferous Limonitic Laterite Ore by Reduction Roasting, Thermal Growth and Magnetic Separation Minerals laterites limonite nickel reduction roasting magnetic separation |
author_facet |
Filipe Rodrigues Christopher A. Pickles John Peacey Richard Elliott John Forster |
author_sort |
Filipe Rodrigues |
title |
Factors Affecting the Upgrading of a Nickeliferous Limonitic Laterite Ore by Reduction Roasting, Thermal Growth and Magnetic Separation |
title_short |
Factors Affecting the Upgrading of a Nickeliferous Limonitic Laterite Ore by Reduction Roasting, Thermal Growth and Magnetic Separation |
title_full |
Factors Affecting the Upgrading of a Nickeliferous Limonitic Laterite Ore by Reduction Roasting, Thermal Growth and Magnetic Separation |
title_fullStr |
Factors Affecting the Upgrading of a Nickeliferous Limonitic Laterite Ore by Reduction Roasting, Thermal Growth and Magnetic Separation |
title_full_unstemmed |
Factors Affecting the Upgrading of a Nickeliferous Limonitic Laterite Ore by Reduction Roasting, Thermal Growth and Magnetic Separation |
title_sort |
factors affecting the upgrading of a nickeliferous limonitic laterite ore by reduction roasting, thermal growth and magnetic separation |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Minerals |
issn |
2075-163X |
publishDate |
2017-09-01 |
description |
There is considerable interest in the development of new processes to extract the nickel from the oxidic nickeliferous laterite deposits, as the global nickel sulphide resources are rapidly becoming more difficult to access. In comparison to sulphide ores, where the nickel-containing mineral can be readily concentrated by flotation, nickel laterites are not amenable to significant upgrading, due to their complex mineralogy. In this paper, firstly, a brief overview of the conventional techniques used to process the nickeliferous limonitic laterites is given, as well as a review of current research in the area. Secondly, a thermodynamic model is developed to simulate the roasting process and to aid in the selection of process parameters to maximize the nickel recovery and grade and also to minimize the magnetite content of the concentrate. Thirdly, a two-stage process involving reduction roasting and thermal growth in either a tube furnace or a rotary kiln furnace, followed by magnetic separation, was investigated. Thermogravimetric, differential thermal and mineral liberation analyses techniques were utilized to further understand the process. Finally, the nickel grades and recovery results were compared to those available in the literature. |
topic |
laterites limonite nickel reduction roasting magnetic separation |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/7/9/176 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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