Rare earth and platinum group elements in the CARON nickel and cobalt extraction process in Cuba

Abstract

In order to identify presence of the elements that belonging to the rare earth and the platinum group in the extraction process of nickel and cobalt from Commander Ernesto Che Guevara Cuban enterprise, samples were taken in different sections of the technological scheme. For the sample selection that was studied, were taken into account those process points where the material has undergone physical and / or chemical transformations. For the chemical characterization the following analytical methods were used: in the case of rare earths, lithium borate fusión, followed by measurement by optical ICP for major oxides, and trace elements by mass ICP; using the concentration by fire test with nickel sulphide for those of the platinum group, with the subsequent measurement by neutron activation. It was obtained that the scandium is majority element and that the technology does not extract rare elements and platinoids, passing these in greater quantity to the solid residue of the process.