Patent ID: 7033480
Filing Date: 2006-04-25
Classification: C22B,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A process for recovering at least one platinum group metal (PGM) and nickel from a material containing the at least one PGM and nickel, comprising: melting at least a portion of the material to form a furnace matte comprising at least most of the at least one PGM and the nickel in the at least a portion of the material and a furnace slag; contacting at least a portion of the furnace matte with an acid-containing lixiviant to form a pregnant leach solution comprising at least most of the nickel in the at least a portion of the furnace matte and a leach residue comprising at least most of the at least one PGM in the at least a portion of the furnace matte; electrowinning the nickel from at least one of the pregnant leach solution and a rich electrolyte derived therefrom to form a first product comprising at least most of the nickel in the at least a portion of the pregnant leach solution and a lean electrolyte comprising acid; solvent extracting at least a portion of the acid in at least one of the lean electrolyte, rich electrolyte, and pregnant leach solution to form an acid product and a treated electrolyte; and recovering at least most of the at least one PGM in the leach residue.