Patent ID: 6428604
Filing Date: 2002-08-06
Classification: C22B,Y02P

Abstract:
A process for the extraction, separation and recovery of nickel, cobalt, and copper from a nickel-cobalt-copper-sulfide containing flotation concentrate comprising:preparing a slurry containing said sulfide containing flotation concentrate and contacting said slurry with an oxygen and chlorine-containing gaseous stream in an atmospheric acid leach stage to thereby generate an oxidative pressure leach feed slurry containing at least about 2 to 40 g/L concentration of chloride ions therein; subjecting said oxidative pressure leach feed slurry to an oxidative pressure leach under acidic conditions at a temperature ranging between about 100 to 150Â° C. to selectively leach the majority of the nickel, cobalt and copper therefrom to form a nickel, cobalt, copper-containing oxidative pressure leach solution and an oxidative pressure leach residue; treating said nickel, cobalt, copper-containing oxidative pressure leach solution after separating the oxidative pressure leach residue therefrom, to separately recover the copper and cobalt, and to remove impurities to thereby form a purified nickel-containing leach solution; and electrowinning nickel from said purified nickel-containing oxidative pressure leach solution to thereby produce nickel cathode, chlorine, oxygen and sulfuric acid therefrom.