Oxidized Nickel Ore and Galvanic Sludge Combined Treatment Investigation

Abstract

Galvanic sludges have been accumulated in large quantities in Ural region. These materials contain low concentration of non-ferrous metals (nickel, zinc, chromium) and iron, and are not being processed. Another difficult for treatment nickel containing materials are oxidized nickel ores, deposits of which are located in Ural. However, the nickel ores aren't processed due to low economic efficiency. In this article simultaneous treatment of oxidized nickel ore and galvanic sludge was investigated. The proposed technology includes nickel ore sulfatization at high temperature in presence of sulfuric acid and further water leaching. Therefore, maximum nickel extraction in solution at leaching of oxidized nickel ore after sulfatization was 82 %. Solutions after leaching are neutralized by nickel containing galvanic sludge. Due to partial nickel chromite dissolution in sulfuric acid a total nickel concentration has been substantially increased. Selective nickel extraction from such solutions is possible by sorption methods, and further metal nickel obtaining - by electrowinning. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.