Study of the Nickel and Cobalt Extraction in a Mixture of Tails and not Balance Laterites

Abstract

This work shows the results obtained from the leaching of nickel and cobalt with sulfuric acid in the mixture of ammonium carbonate queue process (Caron process) , and off-balance laterites (debris), consisting of 50% of each material. The tests were performed on laboratory scale using
a thermostat (water bath) with automatic regulation of the temperature and mechanical stirring. Conducting an experiment design 2k type , setting a factor of study , the temperature at which the leaching process and the concentration of sulfuric acid , with two levels, also develops planned behavior was studied extractions over time. The best extraction results were achieved Ni and Co in the highest levels of the factors studied , a temperature of 90 ºC and concentration of 100 g / L, obtaining values of 23,1 and 48.8 % respectively. The behavior of the extraction of Ni mixtures is the average of the values obtained by processing the queues and laterites off balance individually, while for Co extractions are similar to those achieved by lines studied and in some cases exceeded.