Nickel sulfide, hydrometallurgy

Martinez, R. V. Liranza, E. G. Barzaga, B. R. Daudinot, A. M. Cobalt recovery by solvent extraction from acid leach solutions of Caron s process mixed Ni/Co sulfide. Hydrometallurgy and Refining of Nickel and Cobalt, Annual Hydrometallurgy Meeting of CIM, 27th, Sudbury, Ont., Aug. 17-20, 1997, 293-304. 

World nickel metal production in 2002 was 678000 tons [39]. Hydrometallurgy has typically been applied to the treatment of nickel-copper mattes, anode nickel, and reduced laterite ore. The sulfide concentrates are usually oxidized by roasting and then smelted to copper-iron-nickel sulfide matte (75-80% Cu-Ni), which is refined or used directly to make M onel metal. Cathode nickel can be produced from a variety of electrolytes, including chloride, sulfate, or a mixed chloride-sulfate. The former two are acid systems used in leaching and electrowinning. Mixed chloride-sulfate electrolytes are used for electrorefining the nickel sulfide matte from the traditional matte-smelting operations. 

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