Patent ID: 6524367
Filing Date: 2003-02-25
Classification: C22B,Y02P

Abstract:
A hydrometallurgical process for nickel and cobalt recovery by the intensive leaching of a material including one selected from ores, concentrates, and intermediate products, comprising the following steps:a. reducing a material comprising 0.5-3.0 wt. % nickel, 0.005-1.5 wt. % cobalt, and 10-55 wt. % iron at a temperature range between 540-850Â° C., using a reducing agent; wherein the material is one selected from a nickel ferrous ore, an intermediate product and a nickel and cobalt concentrate, and wherein the Ni and Co metals are soluble in ammonia solutions and wherein a previous reduction is not necessary, b. cooling the reduced material in the presence of reducing or inert gases; c. contacting the cooled, reduced material with one selected from an ammonia-ammonium carbonate and ammonia-ammonium sulfate solution comprising a 0.5-3.0 wt. % solution to form a pulp such that the temperature of the pulp does not exceed 60Â° C.; and d. leaching the pulp in a tubular reactor, wherein air or an oxidizing gas is injected over a leaching time between 5 seconds and 15 minutes, with oxygen adsorption.