IDENTIFYING SOME POTENTIAL FUTURE HYDROMETALLURGICAL PROCESSES IN TREATMENT OF NICKEL LATERITES

Abstract

Existing technologies that currently produce nickel worldwide utilize only about half of the nickel laterite deposits. So, there is a need for a new processing route to recover nickel and cobalt from the remaining laterite ores that are otherwise unutilized. Accordingly, an overview of different existing types of nickel resources and economical processes based on laterite horizons, consumption of energy and reagents and environmental concerns is made in this paper, along with a summary of metallurgical and engineering challenges to be overcome when implementing new technologies and concepts with regard to base metal extraction and sulfur removing efficiency. The paper also compiles and analyzes a range of data concerning energy and greenhouse emissions pertaining to nickel technology.