Patent ID: 8916116
Filing Date: 2014-12-23
Classification: C21B,C22B,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A process for the leaching of a laterite ore or concentrate for the recovery of value metals, including iron, cobalt and nickel, comprising the steps of: a) subjecting laterite ore or concentrate to a leaching step with a lixiviant comprising hydrochloric acid and magnesium chloride to leach value metals from the laterite ore or concentrate, followed by a liquid/solids separation step to obtain a solution containing value metals, said lixiviant having a maximum of 18% by mass of hydrochloric acid and a chloride content of 50 to 400 g/L, the temperature of the leach being in the range of 40° to 105° C.; and b) subjecting the solution to solvent extraction with a dialkyl ketone, to obtain a solution rich in iron and a raffinate, said dialkyl ketone having alkyl groups selected from the group consisting of C c) subjecting raffinate from step b) to solvent extraction to obtain a solution rich in cobalt and a second raffinate; and d) subjecting the second raffinate from step c) to solvent extraction to obtain a solution rich in nickel.