Abstract: An improved method of reducing a mixed metal oxide composition comprising oxides of nickel, cobalt, copper and iron in a hydrogen atmosphere to produce a mixture of the respective metals, the improvement wherein the atmosphere further comprises water vapor at a concentration, temperature and time to effect selective reduction of the oxides of nickel cobalt and copper relative to the iron oxide to produce the metallic mixture having a reduced ratio of metallic iron relative to metallic nickel, cobalt and copper.

Abstract: An improved method of reducing a mixed metal oxide composition comprising oxides of nickel, cobalt, copper and iron in a hydrogen atmosphere to produce a mixture of the respective metals, the improvement wherein the atmosphere further comprises water vapour at a concentration, temperature and time to effect selective reduction of the oxides of nickel cobalt and copper relative to the iron oxide to produce the metallic mixture having a reduced ratio of metallic iron relative to metallic nickel, cobalt and copper.

Abstract: An improved method of reducing a mixed metal oxide composition comprising oxides of nickel, cobalt, copper and iron in a hydrogen atmosphere to produce a mixture of the respective metals, the improvement wherein the atmosphere further comprises water vapour at a concentration, temperature and time to effect selective reduction of the oxides of nickel cobalt and copper relative to the iron oxide to produce the metallic mixture having a reduced ratio of metallic iron relative to metallic nickel, cobalt and copper.

Abstract: An improved method of reducing a mixed metal oxide composition comprising oxides of nickel, cobalt, copper and iron in a hydrogen atmosphere to produce a mixture of the respective metals, the improvement wherein the atmosphere further comprises water vapour at a concentration, temperature and time to effect selective reduction of the oxides of nickel cobalt and copper relative to the iron oxide to produce the metallic mixture having a reduced ratio of metallic iron relative to metallic nickel, cobalt and copper.

Abstract: An improved process of hydrometallurgical treatment of laterite ores predominantly of the limonitic type for the recovery of nickel and cobalt using sulphuric acid. In order to obtain high extractions of these metals while treating these ores in their humid state, in reaction times of up to 60 minutes, temperatures of up to 270° C. and corresponding pressures of up to 800 psia are used. In the present invention, a significant portion of the “mother liquor” emanating from the pressure leaching reaction is recycled to the feed preparation stage thereby substituting for all or a major proportion of the water that must be added. Concomitantly with the major savings in water requirements, a significant reduction in new sulphuric acid requirements is effected along with a corresponding saving in limestone and lime required for subsequent neutralizations. The amount of process water released to the environment is significantly reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: The present invention provides an atmospheric acid leaching process for leaching nickel and cobalt from highly-serpentinized saprolitic fractions of nickel laterite deposits that are generally too low in nickel to support economical extraction of their nickel contents by pyrometallurgical processing except under special circumstances, and generally too high in magnesium to be suitable for processing by modern high pressure acid leaching processes employed for treating predominantly limonitic nickel laterites. The process involves leaching the highly-serpentinized saprolitic portion of the nickel laterite ore profile in strong sulphuric acid solutions at atmospheric pressure and temperatures between 80° C. and 100° C., essentially autogenously, to extract at least 90% of its contained nickel content and a large proportion of its cobalt content after leaching reaction times of about one hour or less.