Simultaneous extraction of metals from nickel concentrate via NH4HSO4 roasting-water leaching process and transformation of mineral phase
(1. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China;
2. School of Resources and Materials, Northeastern University at Qinhuangdao, Qinhuangdao 066004, China;
3. Key Laboratory of Dielectric and Electrolyte Functional Material Hebei Province, School of Resources and Materials, Northeastern University at Qinhuangdao, Qinhuangdao 066004, China;
4. Key Laboratory of Resources Cleaner Conversion and Efficient Utilization Qinhuangdao City, Qinhuangdao 066004, China;
5. College of Metallurgy and Energy, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063210, China)
2. School of Resources and Materials, Northeastern University at Qinhuangdao, Qinhuangdao 066004, China;
3. Key Laboratory of Dielectric and Electrolyte Functional Material Hebei Province, School of Resources and Materials, Northeastern University at Qinhuangdao, Qinhuangdao 066004, China;
4. Key Laboratory of Resources Cleaner Conversion and Efficient Utilization Qinhuangdao City, Qinhuangdao 066004, China;
5. College of Metallurgy and Energy, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063210, China)
Abstract: Low-temperature NH4HSO4 roasting-water leaching process was proposed to extract Ni, Cu and Co from Jinchuan nickel concentrate simultaneously. The effects of some factors on the metal extraction in the process of sulfation roasting and water leaching were systematically investigated. The results showed that 95.7% Ni, 98.9% Cu and 96.8% Co were extracted under optimized roasting and water leaching conditions. The transformation evolution of mineral phases was determined through the means of DTA-TG, XRD, SEM and EDS. The valuable metals were effectively extracted by being transformed to water-soluble metal-ammonium complexes under the sulfation reaction of NH4HSO4 and decomposed SO3 and NH3. Iron impurities in the leach solution can be removed by elevating leaching temperature to combine iron ions with ammonium ions to form NH4[Fe3(SO4)2(OH)6] precipitate. The volatiles collected in the roasting process were determined to be (NH4)2SO4 and (NH4)2SO3, which can be used as reagents for sulfation roasting.
Key words: nickel concentrate; NH4HSO4 roasting; simultaneous extraction; water leaching; mineral phase transformation