Improvements in the Treatment of Nickel Ores for Extraction of the Nickel and the Production of Iron Oxide Pigment.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Oct., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 29th May, 1897-Accepted, 11th Sept., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Treatment of Nickel Ores for Extraction of the
Nickel and the Production of Iron Oxide Pigment.
I, THOMAS STORER, of Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object the extraction of Nickel from its ores and the
production by the same process, of pigments consisting of iron oxides.
specially adapted to such ores as contain silicates or hydrated silicates of nickle such
as the well known Nickel ores of New Caledonia, and to such ores as contain oxides
or hydrated oxides of nickel.
According to this process, the ore is treated in a finely divided condition with a
Ferric Salt, preferably Ferric Chloride (FeCl₁), in solution, in a closed steam
jacketted vessel, at a temperature which may be about 370° Fahrenheit. and under
corresponding pressure. By treating thus for 5 to 8 hours, the nickel enters into
solution as Chloride, and Iron is thrown down as Oxide in the form of a fine red
pigment of high quality.
After the reaction is completed the charge is withdrawn, the solution of Chloride
of Nickel is filtered off and the iron oxide is washed and dried, being then ready
for use. The Nickel may be electrolytically deposited from the solution, or
precipitated as Oxide or Hydrated Oxide by addition of caustic alkali or otherwise.
The Oxide of Nickel thus obtained may be reduced to metal in the ordinary way, or
it may he combined with acids to form salts.
Good results are obtained by employing a solution of Perchloride of Iron
containing about 26 per cent. of dry perchloride, using about 1700 lbs. per ton of ore.
The proportions however may be varied to suit the character of the ore.
Also the temperature under which the ore is treated and the strength of the
perchloride solution may be varied thus varying the colour of the resultant iron
oxide.
1
1000
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in the Treatment of Nickel Ores for Extraction of the
Nickel and the Production of Iron Oxide Pigment.
I, THOMAS STORER, of Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
Price d

page_text: performed, to be particularly described and ascertained, in and by the following
statement:-
This invention has for its object the extraction of Nickel from its ores and the
production by the same process, of piginents consisting of iron oxides. It is specially
adapted to such ores as contain silicates or hydrated silicates of nickel such as the
well known nickel ores of New Caledonia, and to such ores as contain oxides or
hydrated oxides of nickel.
According to this process the ore is treated in a finely divided condition (preferably
such as to pass through a sieve having 60 meshes to the linear inch) with a Ferric
Salt, preferably Ferrie Chloride (FeCl), in solution, in a closed vessel (which may
be steam jacketted) at a temperature which may be about 370° Fahrenheit and
under corresponding pressure. By thus heating from 5 to 8 hours a double
decomposition takes place, the nickel enters into solution as Chloride, and
Iron is thrown down as Oxide in the form of a fine red pigment of high
quality.
After the reaction is completed the charge is withdrawn, the solution of Chloride
of Nickel is filtered off and the iron oxide w.ich is insoluble is washed and dried,
being then ready for use. The nickel may be electrolytically deposited from the
solution, or precipitated as Oxide or Hydrated Oxide by addition of Caustic alkali
or otherwise.
The Oxide of Nickel thus obtained may be reduced to metal in the ordinary way,
or it may be combined with acids to form salts. Good results are obtained by
employing a solution of Ferric chloride containing about 26 per cent. of dry
chloride, using about 1700 lbs of dry chloride, per ton of ore. The proportions
however may be varied to suit the character of the ore but the above proportions are
suitable for ores containing 5 to 8 per cent. of nickel.
Also the temperature under which the ore is treated and the strength of the
chloride solution may be varied thus varying the colour of the resultant iron
oxide.
Such being the general character of the invention the following example shews
how it may be carried out in practice.
1 part by weight of the finely ground New Caledonia Nickel Ore and 2 parts by
weight of the solution of Ferrie Chloride (commonly known as Perchloride of iron)
having a strength of 26 per cent., or containing that percentage of the solid
substance are put in a strong closed vessel which may be made of iron or steel
enamelled provided with a stirrer, and steam-jacket, or other means of heating.
The temperature is raised to 370° Fahrenheit or thereabout, developing a corre-
sponding internal pressure and the contents are occasionally stirred, during about 5
hours.
The contents are then discharged, these consisting of a solution of Nickel and an
insoluble substance, which is the brilliant red oxide of iron pigment. These are
separated by settling and decantation, or by filtering, or filter pressing, or
otherwise.
The solution is then treated in any known way to recover the Nickel and
the oxide of Iron Pigment is washed with water, after which it is ready for
use.
The nickel solution nay contain a small proportion of Ferrous salt, which is
easily removed by agitation with a little carbonate of lime, before recovering the
nickel.
By operating in the above manner practically the whole of the nickel is
obtained in solution. while the red piginent is of a brilliant colour, rivalling or
excelling any other iron oxide pigment, either natural or artificial at present
known.
Although Ferric Salts generally, give a pigment when treated with New
Caledonia Nickel Ores according to the shove process, the product so prepared
is of an inferior colour, and therefore the Ferric Chloride is to be preferred

page_text: as it gives the bright red which is so much esteemed, and is of much higher
value.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what inanner the same is to be performed, I declare that I make
no general claim to the treatment of nickel or other ores with ferric salts at low
temperatures, but what I claim is :-
The treatment of New Caledonia Nickel Ores and Ores of a similar constitution,
containing Silicates or Hydrated Silicates of Nickel, with a solution of Ferric
Chloride, at a temperature of about 370° Fahrenheit thus obtaining salt of
nickel in solution and a bright red iron oxide pigment substantially as
described.
Duted this 94th day of M. 1907