Abstract: A process for producing a metallic nickel product with a low iron content, that includes: (i) providing an acidic product liquor; (ii) subjecting the acidic product liquor to an ion exchange process to absorb the nickel and part of the iron; (iii) eluting the nickel and iron to produce an eluate containing the nickel and iron. (iv) neutralising the eluate to leave an iron depleted eluate; (v) neutralising the iron depleted eluate to cause precipitation of nickel hydroxide containing low iron; (vi) calcining the nickel hydroxide to convert it to nickel oxide; (vii) subjecting the nickel oxide to direct smelting in the presence of a reductant to produce a molten nickel phase; and (viii) refining the molten nickel phase by oxidation to produce a metallic nickel product with low iron content.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of nickel and cobalt from nickel and cobalt containing ores, including the steps of first leaching a laterite ore and/or a partially oxidized sulfide ore with an acid solution to produce a pregnant leach solution containing at least dissolved nickel, cobalt and ferric ions, and subsequently leaching a sulfide ore or concentrate with the pregnant leach solution to produce a product liquor. Alternatively, the laterite ore and/or partially oxidized sulfide ore can be leached in a combined leach with the sulfide ore or concentrate. The ferric ion content in the pregnant leach solution or in the combined leach is sufficient to maintain the oxidation and reduction potential in the sulfide leach high enough to assist in leaching nickel from the sulfide ore or concentrate.

Abstract: A process for producing a metallic nickel product with a low iron content, including the steps of: (i) providing an acidic product liquor containing at least nickel and iron; (ii) subjecting said acidic product liquor to an ion exchange process wherein an ion exchange resin selectively absorbs said nickel and part of the iron from said product liquor; (iii) eluting the nickel and iron from said resin with an acidic solution to produce an eluate containing said nickel and iron. (iv) neutralising said eluate to a pH value in the range from 2.5 to 3.

Abstract: A process for the production of ferro-nickel or nickel matte from a product liquor solution containing at least nickel, cobalt, iron and acid soluble impurities, said process including the steps of: (a) contacting the product liquor solution (7) containing the nickel, cobalt, iron and acid soluble impurities with an ion exchange resin (8), wherein the resin selectively absorbs nickel and iron from the solution leaving the cobalt and the acid soluble impurities in the raffinate (9); (b) stripping the nickel and iron from the resin with a sulfuric acid solution to produce an eluate (11) containing nickel and iron; (c) neutralising the eluate to precipitate a mixed nickel iron hydroxide product (13); and (d) reducing and smelting the mixed nickel iron hydroxide product to produce ferro-nickel (29) or nickel matte (24).

Abstract: A process for producing a ferronickel product from a mixed nickel iron hydroxide product, said process including the steps of: providing a mixed nickel iron hydroxide product; pelletising the mixed nickel iron hydroxide product to produce nickel iron hydroxide pellets; calcining the nickel iron hydroxide pellets to produce mixed nickel iron oxide pellets; and reducing the nickel iron oxide pellets with one or more reducing gases at high temperatures to produce ferronickel pellets.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of nickel and cobalt from nickel and cobalt containing ores, including the steps of first leaching a laterite ore and/or a partially oxidised sulfide ore with an acid solution to produce a pregnant leach solution containing at least dissolved nickel, cobalt and ferric ions, and subsequently leaching a sulfide ore or concentrate with the pregnant leach solution to produce a product liquor. Alternatively, the laterite ore and/or partially oxidised sulfide ore can be leached in a combined leach with the sulfide ore or concentrate. The ferric ion content in the pregnant leach solution or in the combined leach is sufficient to maintain the oxidation and reduction potential in the sulfide leach high enough to assist in leaching nickel from the sulfide ore or concentrate.

Abstract: A process for the production of ferro-nickel or nickel matte from a product liquor solution containing at least nickel, cobalt, iron and acid soluble impurities, said process including the steps of: (a) contacting the product liquor solution (7) containing the nickel, cobalt, iron and acid soluble impurities with an ion exchange resin (8), wherein the resin selectively absorbs nickel and iron from the solution leaving the cobalt and the acid soluble impurities in the raffinate (9); (b) stripping the nickel and iron from the resin with a sulfuric acid solution to produce an eluate (11) containing nickel and iron; (c) neutralising the eluate to precipitate a mixed nickel iron hydroxide product (13); and (d) reducing and smelting the mixed nickel iron hydroxide product to produce ferro-nickel (29) or nickel matte (24).

Abstract: A process for producing a ferronickel product from a mixed nickel iron hydroxide product, said process including the steps of: providing a mixed nickel iron hydroxide product; pelletising the mixed nickel iron hydroxide product to produce nickel iron hydroxide pellets; calcining the nickel iron hydroxide pellets to produce mixed nickel iron oxide pellets; and reducing the nickel iron oxide pellets with one or more reducing gases at high temperatures to produce ferronickel pellets.