Patent ID: 8454723
Filing Date: 2013-06-04
Classification: C22B

Abstract:
1. A heap leach process for the recovery of nickel and/or cobalt from a laterite ore, comprising: a) providing one or more heaps of a nickeliferous laterite ore; b) leaching the ore in a heap leach step by applying acid to the one or more heaps to provide a pregnant leach solution; c) neutralizing the pregnant leach solution with ground saprolite ore to a pH of from 0.5 to 3.5 to precipitate iron as an iron hydroxide or oxide, and adding further ground saprolite to adjust the pH of the pregnant leach solution to a pH of about 3 to 5 to precipitate aluminium as aluminium hydroxide; and d) recovering the nickel and/or cobalt from the neutralised pregnant leach solution.