Abstract: The invention enables processing waste sludge after galvanic treatment of metals, and particularly recycling spent pickling acids after pickling. Provided is an environmentally friendly process, which yields acids for reuse, and pure nano-sized iron pigments as a side product.

Abstract: There are provided processes for extracting aluminum ions from aluminous ores and for preparing alumina. Such processes can be used with various types of aluminous ores such as aluminous ores comprising, for example, various types of metals such as Fe, K, Mg, Na, Ca, Mn, Ba, Zn, Li, Sr, V, Ni, Cr, Pb, Cu, Co, Sb, As, B, Sn, Be, Mo, or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Methods for regenerating amorphous iron oxide hydroxide after being used as desulfurizer by (1) grinding a waste mixture into waste powder, wherein the waste mixture results from use of the composition comprising amorphous iron oxide hydroxide as desulfurizer; (2) preparing the waste powder into a suspension and charging the suspension with a gas containing oxygen to obtain a slurry comprising amorphous iron oxide hydroxide and elemental sulfur; and (3) placing the slurry or a solid resulting from filtering the slurry into a container and charging the slurry or the solid with air so that the elemental sulfur floats and the amorphous iron oxide hydroxide precipitates.

Abstract: A method for recovering nickel from sulfuric acid aqueous solution, for recovering nickel in an effectively utilizable form as a raw material of nickel industry material, by separating efficiently impurity elements of iron, aluminum, manganese, etc., from the sulfuric acid aqueous solution containing nickel and cobalt, and the impurity elements, iron, aluminum, manganese, etc.

Abstract: TiO2-supported catalysts include at least molybdenum or tungsten as active components for hydrotreating processes, in particular for the removal of sulfur and nitrogen compounds as well as metals out of crude oil fractions and for the hydrogenation of sulfur oxides.

Abstract: A process for the production of iron (III) orthophosphate of the general formula FePO4×nH2O (n?2.5) comprising: a) producing an aqueous solution containing Fe2+ ions by introducing, iron (II), iron (III) or mixed iron (II, III) compounds selected from hydroxides, oxides, oxide hydroxides, oxide hydrates, carbonates and hydroxide carbonates, together with elementary iron, into a phosphoric acid-bearing aqueous medium, to dissolve Fe2+ ions and to react Fe3+ with elementary Fe in a comproportionation reaction to give Fe2+; b) separating solids from the phosphoric-acid aqueous Fe2+ solution, and c) adding an oxidation agent to the phosphoric-acid aqueous Fe2+ solution to oxidize iron (II) in the solution to precipitate iron (III) orthophosphate of the general formula FePO4×nH2O. The invention includes the product of the process and its use to make LiFePO4 for batteries.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for separating nickel and other valuable metalsparticularly from material having low nickel content, which contains iron and magnesium in addition to nickel and other valuable metals. The material havinglow nickel content is subjected to pulpingand atmospheric leaching in acidic and oxidising conditions, in which the majority of the metals in themate-rialdissolve and the iron is partially precipitated. The precipitated iron is sepa-rated from the solution, after which nickel and the other dissolved valuable metalsare precipitated as sulphides.

Abstract: The invention relates to a powder compound of the formula NiaMbOx(OH)y, wherein M represents Co and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Fe, Zn, Al, Sr, Mg, or Ca and mixtures thereof, or M represents Co Mn and Fe, wherein 0.6?a<1.0, 0<b?0.4, 0<x?0.60, and 1.4?y<2, wherein the powder compound has a particle size distribution d50 value, measured in accordance with ASTM B 822, of <5 ?m, and wherein a ratio of tap density, measured in accordance with ASTM B 527, to the particle size distribution d50 value is at least 0.4 g/cm3. The invention also relates to a process for preparing the compound and its uses.

Abstract: Provided is an arsenic-containing solid comprising 100 parts by mass of a scorodite-type iron-arsenic compound and at least 1 part by mass of an iron oxide compound added thereto, in which the scorodite-type iron-arsenic compound is produced by adding an oxidizing agent to an aqueous acidic solution that contains a 5-valent arsenic (V) ion and a 2-valent iron (II) ion, then promoting the precipitation of an iron-arsenic compound with stirring the liquid, and finishing the precipitation thereof within a range where the pH of the liquid is at most 1.2. The iron oxide compound includes goethite, hematite and their mixture, preferably having a BET specific surface area of at least 3 m2/g, more preferably at least 20 m2/g.

Abstract: The disclosure provides to a PDC element protective system including a mask configured to protect a non-leached portion of a leached polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) element during a leaching process. The mask may be formed from or coated with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The disclosure also provides a leaching system containing such a mask and a leaching vessel as well as methods of using the protective and leaching systems. The disclosure further provides a Lewis acid-based leaching agent and methods of its use. Finally, the disclosure provides a method of recycling a PDC or carbide element using a Lewis acid-based leaching agent.

Abstract: For processing of noble metal-containing, moist recycling materials with an unknown noble metal content (hereinafter called “batch”), a moisture-binding agent is added for homogenisation and the batch is mixed with comminution of optionally pre-sent agglomerates to form a free-flowing and homogenous powder. Optionally, the following takes place subsequently for analysis: A at least one representative, volume-reduced sample is taken first of all, B the sample is dried, C the sample is optionally divided further and D the sample is analyzed and the noble metal content of the batch is calculated on the basis of the data a previously known or pre-calculated quantity of the moisture-binding agent being added before sampling (step A).

Abstract: Methods are generally disclosed for synthesis of porous particles from a solution formed from a leaving agent, a surfactant, and a soluble metal salt in a solvent. The surfactant congregates to form a nanoparticle core such that the metal salt forms about the nanoparticle core to form a plurality of nanoparticles. The solution is heated such that the leaving agent forms gas bubbles in the solution, and the plurality of nanoparticles congregate about the gas bubbles to form a porous particle. The porous particles are also generally disclosed and can include a particle shell formed about a core to define an average diameter from about 0.5 ?m to about 50 ?m. The particle shell can be formed from a plurality of nanoparticles having an average diameter of from about 1 nm to about 50 nm and defined by a metal salt formed about a surfactant core.

Abstract: A system and method for processing aqueous solutions is provided. A method for controlled bubble collapse is provided, which catalyzes chemical reactions in aqueous solutions that cause metal and other ions and compounds in solution to form hydroxide, oxide, protonated, polyatomic and other stable precipitate species, compounds or complexes. The reactions convert metal ions in solution into stable metal hydroxide, oxide and other precipitates or solid complexes. Further processing including recirculation, detention, precipitate formation and detection can be utilized. Pressure and flow modulated and regulated recirculation of precipitate laden aqueous solution through a hydrocyclone particle or precipitate separation circuit can also be utilized.

Abstract: In various aspects, the invention provides processes that use relatively low levels of acid to leach lean nickel ores, including processes that provide relatively high levels of extraction of nickel and cobalt from nickel laterite ores, in conjunction with relatively low levels of iron extraction.

Abstract: A hydrometallurgical process for a nickel oxide ore comprising obtaining an aqueous solution of crude nickel sulfate by high pressure acid leaching of a nickel oxide ore; obtaining a zinc free final solution by sulfurization of the solution; obtaining a waste solution; and scrubbing hydrogen sulfide gas from an exhaust gas. The process is characterized by at least one of the following operations: Adjusting the total volume (m3) of a sulfurization reactor to a ratio of 0.2-0.9 (m3/kg/h) relative to the input mass (kg/h) of the nickel to be introduced to the reactor; and/or subjecting the waste solution and the exhaust gas to countercurrent contact, then introducing the exhaust gas back to the scrubber and charging the waste solution from the scrubber into the sulfurization reactor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preparing magnetite nanoparticles from low-grade iron ore and magnetite nanoparticles prepared by the same. According to the method of the present invention, in which iron ore leachate is obtained by adding low-grade iron ore powder to an acidic solution, Si and Mg that inhibit the formation of magnetite nanoparticles present in the leachate are selectively removed, iron hydroxide (Fe(OH)3) is allowed to be precipitated from a supernatant containing Fe2+ ions and Fe3+ ions, a mixed iron solution containing Fe2+ ions and Fe3+ ions is prepared using the iron hydroxide (Fe(OH)3), and the mixed iron solution is added to an alkaline solution to react, thereby preparing magnetite nanoparticles.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of a metal sulfide from a metal ion containing solution, including the steps of: a) providing a slurry containing seed panicles of said metal sulfide; h) adding a sulfide ion containing solution to said slurry to form an activated seed slurry; c) mixing said activated seed slurry with said metal ion containing solution to thereby form a metal sulfide precipitate; and d) recovering said metal sulfide precipitate.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for refining iron from high-phosphorus content iron ores. The process involves mixing a high-phosphorus iron oxide ore and an alkaline solution of pH between about 12.5 and 13.5, screening the mixture by gravity to separate an alkaline-high-phosphorus solution from a low-phosphorus iron ore; and treating the low-phosphorus iron ore with lime and a natural gas.

Abstract: Process for the treatment of a lateritic nickel/cobalt ore consisting of a mixture (2) of limonite and saprolite, characterized in that: the mixture (2) in the presence of an iron-precipitating agent is made into a pulp (1), having a solids content of between 10 and 40% by weight; the pulp undergoes a leaching operation (4) with sulphuric acid (5), at a temperature between 70° C. and the boiling point and at atmospheric pressure; and a solid-liquid separation (8) is carried out so as to obtain an iron-containing solid residue (9) and a solution containing nickel and cobalt ions. Process for producing nickel and/or cobalt intermediate concentrates or commercial products using the above process.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a process for removing dissolved niobium, titanium, and zirconium impurities from an iron chloride solution having an iron concentration of about 50 to about 250 grams/liter comprising: (a) heating the iron chloride solution comprising a compound selected from the group consisting of a niobium compound, titanium compound, zirconium compound, and mixtures thereof, in a vessel, at a temperature of about 120° C. to about 300° C., and at least autogenous pressure, to precipitate the compound as a solid; and (b) separating the solid from the iron chloride solution. The separation of the solid is accomplished by filtration, settling, or centrifugation. In one embodiment, the iron chloride solution is a byproduct of the chlorination process for making titanium dioxide.

Abstract: There are provided processes for extracting aluminum ions from aluminous ores. Such processes can be used with various types of aluminous ores such as aluminous ores comprising various types of metals such as Fe, K, Mg, Na, Ca, Mn, Ba, Zn, Li, Sr, V, Ni, Cr, Pb, Cu, Co, Sb, As, B, Sn, Be, Mo, or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The method of dissolving the solids formed in the apparatus and pipework of a nuclear plant, in which the solids are brought into contact with an aqueous dissolving solution chosen from aqueous solutions of carbonate ions having a concentration of greater than or equal to 0.3M, aqueous solutions of bicarbonate ions, and solutions of a mixture of nitric acid and of a polycarboxylic acid chosen from oxalic acid and triacids.

Abstract: Uses for a composition comprising a polymer derived from at least two monomers: acrylic-x and an alkylamine, wherein said polymer is modified to contain a functional group capable of scavenging one or more compositions containing one or more metals are disclosed. These polymers have many uses in various mediums, including wastewater systems.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a process for the instantaneous control of the precipitation of nickel and cobalt present in a leach liquor by adjustment of the pH-value. Said leach liquor is obtained by pressurized acidic leaching of laterite ores and additionally contains aluminium, ferric and ferrous iron and chromium among others. The process comprises the following steps: precipitation of aluminium, ferric and ferrous iron, chromium etc. by increasing the pH-value by adding a suitable reagent such as lime and/or limestone, following precipitation of nickel and cobalt by further increasing the pH-value of the liquor, finally separating the precipitate from the low-content nickel and cobalt solution. The nickel and cobalt precipitate can be used for further refinement. In order to keep the process conditions constant, the steps of increasing the pH-value are controlled simultaneously.

Abstract: A process for recovering a metal chloride or mixed metal chloride from a solid waste material comprising recoverable metal containing constituents produced by lead, copper or zinc smelting and refining processes, said process comprising the steps of: (i) heating the solid waste material; (ii) treating the heated material of step (i) with a gaseous chloride to form a gaseous metal chloride containing product; and (iii) treating the gaseous metal chloride containing product of step (ii) to recover the metal chloride or mixed metal chloride. The metal chloride may be further treated to extract the metal itself.

Abstract: A method for recovering base metal values from oxide ore is provided, where the ore includes a first group metal selected from iron, magnesium and aluminum and a second group metal selected from nickel, cobalt and copper. The method includes reducing ore particle size to suit the latter unit operations, favoring contact of the metal elements, contacting the ore with ferric or ferrous chloride, hydrated or anhydrous, to produce a mix of ore and iron(II or III) chloride, subjecting the mixture of the ore and ferric or ferrous chloride to enough energy to decompose the chlorides into hydrochloric acid and a iron oxide, contacting the readily-formed hydrochloric acid with the base metal oxides from the second group, forming their respective chlorides, selectively dissolve the produced base metal chlorides, leaving the metals as oxides and in the solid state, and recovering the dissolved base metal values from aqueous solution.

Abstract: Disclosed are a nickel hydroxide powder and a method for producing the same. The nickel hydroxide powder comprises a particle in the form of sphere, an average particle diameter of 0.1 ?m or more and 30 ?m or less, and the amount of the particles having a diameter of 0.7 times or more and 1.3 times or less the average particle diameter of 80% by weight or more based on the total amount of particles. The method for producing a nickel hydroxide powder comprises the steps of (1) to (4): (1) injecting a solution containing a nickel salt through a pore into a liquid mutually insoluble with the solution to obtain an emulsion including solution as a dispersed phase and the liquid as a continuous phase; (2) gelating the emulsion; (3) separating the dispersed phase from the obtained gel to obtain a cake; and (4) drying the cake.

Abstract: A process for producing a purified nickel hydroxide precipitate from a nickel-containing leach solution with impurities including one or more of the following: manganese, copper, zinc, iron and/or cobalt, so that the purified nickel hydroxide is suitable for pelletization with iron-containing ores and/or stainless steel production, includes treating the leach solution with a base to form a slurry of mixed hydroxide precipitate and low-nickel barren solution, thickening the slurry to form filter cake, washing the filter cake and contacting it with acid to dissolve nickel and other metals to produce a concentrated nickel-containing solution, subjecting the concentrated nickel-containing solution to solvent extraction with an organic acid extractant to remove metals other than nickel from the nickel-containing solution and form a solvent extraction raffinate of purified nickel solution and treating the solvent extraction raffinate with a base to precipitate the purified nickel hydroxide precipitate.

Abstract: Provided are processes for the production of titanium dioxide from ilmenite. In these processes, ilmenite is digested with aqueous ammonium hydrogen oxalate. Iron from the ilmenite precipitates as a hydrated iron oxalate and is removed by filtering, leaving a titanium-rich solution. The titanium-rich solution can be further processed to form titanium dioxide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the conversion of cobalt(II)hydroxide into cobalt(III)oxidehydroxide (CoOOH) by reaction of the cobalt(II)hydroxide with oxygen in the presence of certain metal compounds. The invention further relates to the use of cobalt(III)oxidehydroxide thus prepared in the preparation of catalysts or catalysts precursors, especially catalysts or catalyst precursors for the conversion of synthesis gas into normally liquid and normally solid hydrocarbons and to normally liquid or solid hydrocarbons, optionally after additional hydrotreatment, obtained in such a conversion process.

Abstract: Method for preparing material containing amorphous iron oxide hydroxide, the method including: mixing an aqueous ferrous salt solution and hydroxide solution or solid hydroxides at the temperature of below 70° C., filtering the reaction solution, washing the filter cake, preparing suspension solution of the filter cake, blowing an oxygen-containing gas into the suspension solution to oxidize the ferrous iron, and then filtering and drying. The material after being used as desulfurization agent can be repeatedly regenerated through oxidation in an oxygen-containing gas. A desulfurization agent, and methods for preparation and repeated regeneration thereof. The desulfurization agent contains the material and organic binders, and may also include a small amount of additives. The organic binders are selected from sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, sesbania powder, and cellulose powder, and the additives are selected from sawdust, rice husk power, and bran.

Abstract: Methods for regenerating amorphous iron oxide hydroxide after being used as desulfurizer by (1) grinding a waste mixture into waste powder, wherein the waste mixture results from use of the composition comprising amorphous iron oxide hydroxide as desulfurizer; (2) preparing the waste powder into a suspension and charging the suspension with a gas containing oxygen to obtain a slurry comprising amorphous iron oxide hydroxide and elemental sulfur; and (3) placing the slurry or a solid resulting from filtering the slurry into a container and charging the slurry or the solid with air so that the elemental sulfur floats and the amorphous iron oxide hydroxide precipitates.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a metal oxide nano powder comprising preparing a first dispersed solution by adding a nano-sized metal powder to water and dispersing the metal powder within the water, performing a hydration reaction of the first dispersed solution at a temperature of about 30 to about 70° C. to generate a precipitation, and filtering and drying the precipitation to prepare a metal oxide powder. Also, disclosed is a metal oxide nano powder manufactured by the method described above, and having any one of a bar-form, a cube-form, and a fiber-form.

Abstract: A method of preparation of spherical tricobalt tetraoxide, including at least oxidizing a bivalent cobalt salt in a wet environment and in the presence of a precipitant, a complexing agent, and an oxidant to yield spherical cobalt oxyhydroxide.cobalt hydroxide according to the following equation Co2++3OH?+O?CoOOH.Co(OH)2; oxidizing the spherical hydroxy cobalt oxyhydroxide.cobalt hydroxide to yield spherical tricobalt tetraoxide according to the following equation 6CoOOH.Co(OH)2+O?4Co3O4+9H2O; and roasting the spherical tricobalt tetraoxide at low or intermediate temperature to yield a black powder. The method is easily practiced and suitable for mass production, and the resultant spherical tricobalt tetraoxide has stable structure, reliable properties, and high activity.

Abstract: A heap leach process for the recovery of nickel and cobalt from a lateritic ore, said process including the steps of leaching and/or agglomerating the ore with a lixiviant that includes ferrous ions, wherein the lixiviant is able to liberate cobalt from the cobalt containing minerals within the ore in preference to nickel, to produce a cobalt rich pregnant leach solution relatively free of nickel.

Abstract: A method of processing waste iron chloride solution including ferrous chloride, ferric chloride or mixtures thereof and optionally free hydrochloric acid, includes concentrating waste iron chloride solution into concentrated liquid having iron chloride concentration of at least 30%-40% by weight; optionally oxidizing ferrous chloride in the concentrated liquid from the concentration step to ferric chloride providing liquid containing ferric chloride; hydrolyzing the liquid containing ferric chloride from the oxidation step at 155-350° C.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of nickel and cobalt from a nickeliferous oxidic ore by heap leaching and/or atmospheric agitation leaching, the process including the steps of: mixing a sulfur containing reductant selected from reductants that do not include copper into a nickeliferous oxidic ore; leaching the reductant/ore mixture with an acidic leach reagent to produce a pregnant leach solution including nickel, cobalt, iron substantially in a ferrous form and other acid soluble impurities; and recovering the nickel and cobalt from the pregnant leach solution.

Abstract: The separation method for zinc sulfide, in the hydrometallurgical process by a High Pressure Acid Leach for nickel oxide ore comprising leaching and solid/liquid separation step, neutralization step, zinc removal step, and nickel recovery step, which can inhibit clogging of a filter cloth and reduce a frequency of washing operation and replacement operation of a filter cloth by improving filtration performance of zinc sulfide, and inhibit decrease of nickel recovery ratio, in the zinc removal step in which zinc sulfide is formed by adding a sulfurizing agent to the neutralization final liquid containing zinc as well as nickel and cobalt and zinc sulfide is separated to obtain a mother liquid for nickel recovery containing nickel and cobalt. The separation method for zinc sulfide of the present invention is characterized in that in the above-described neutralization step, the leach residue is added to the leach liquor, and pH of the neutralization final liquid is adjusted so as to fall to the range from 3.

Abstract: A method for recovering base metal values from oxide ore is provided, where the ore includes a first group metal selected from iron, magnesium and aluminum and a second group metal selected from nickel, cobalt and copper. The method includes reducing ore particle size to suit the latter unit operations, favoring contact of the metal elements, contacting the ore with ferric or ferrous chloride, hydrated or anhydrous, to produce a mix of ore and iron(II or III) chloride, subjecting the mixture of the ore and ferric or ferrous chloride to enough energy to decompose the chlorides into hydrochloric acid and a iron oxide, contacting the readily-formed hydrochloric acid with the base metal oxides from the second group, forming their respective chlorides, selectively dissolve the produced base metal chlorides, leaving the metals as oxides and in the solid state, and recovering the dissolved base metal values from aqueous solution.

Abstract: A process for the treatment of a solution containing at least ferric ions, and one or more metal values, said process including the step of maintaining a controlled concentration of ferric ions in solution for a sufficient residence time to control iron hydroxide or oxide crystal growth, and precipitating the iron as a relatively crystalline iron hydroxide or oxide while minimising the loss of the ore or more metal values with the iron hydroxide or oxide.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of a metal sulfide from a metal ion containing solution, including the steps of: a) providing a slurry containing seed panicles of said metal sulfide; h) adding a sulfide ion containing solution to said slurry to form an activated seed slurry; c) mixing said activated seed slurry with said metal ion containing solution to thereby form a metal sulfide precipitate; and d) recovering said metal sulfide precipitate.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing Fe and Ni-containing material and Co-containing material from petrochemical desulfurization residue containing Fe and Ni or Fe and Co, manufacturing raw material for stainless steel using the Fe and Ni-containing material, and manufacturing ferro-nickel using the Fe and Ni-containing material. The method of manufacturing Ni and Fe-containing material includes acid-treating Ni and Fe-containing residue to remove alkali therefrom; drying the residue and heat treating the residue in a temperature range from 600° C. (degree Centigrade) to 1300° C.

Abstract: Porous, ferro- or ferrimagnetic, glass particles are described that selectively bind molecules of interest, especially nucleic acid molecules, under appropriate conditions. Methods of preparing the porous, ferro- or ferrimagnetic, glass particles and their use for identifying or separating molecules of interest are also described. Kits comprising the porous, ferro- or ferrimagnetic, glass particles are also provided.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel compositions of zeolites or microporous metallosilicates characterized by a continuous spatial distribution of the metal and silicon in the crystals and characterized by a crystal surface enriched in silicon relative to the internal part of the same crystals. This invention also relates to a synthesis method of producing these metallosilicates with spatial distribution of the constituting elements. These novel zeolitic compositions can be used in various hydrocarbon conversion reactions. The crystalline metallosilicates can be selected from the group consisting of aluminosilicates, gallosilicates, ferrosilicates, titanosilicates and borosilicates.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel compositions of zeolites or microporous metallosilicates characterized by a continuous spatial distribution of the metal and silicon in the crystals and characterized by a crystal surface enriched in silicon relative to the internal part of the same crystals. This invention also relates to a synthesis method of producing these metallosilicates with spatial distribution of the constituting elements. These novel zeolitic compositions can be used in various hydrocarbon conversion reactions. The crystalline metallosilicates can be selected from the group consisting of aluminosilicates, gallosilicates, ferrosilicates, titanosilicates and borosilicates.

Abstract: A method of treating alkaline industrial by-products, such as red mud generated by Bayer process bauxite refining, is described. Embodiments of the method comprise treating the alkaline industrial by-products with salts of divalent and/or polyvalent cations, thereby lowering pH of the alkaline industrial by-products. The method involves replacement reactions in which relatively insoluble hydroxide salts form precipitates, thereby removing hydroxide ions from solution.

Abstract: The process for production of iron oxyhydroxide particles according to the invention is characterized by comprising a step (A) in which a suspension containing iron(II) is prepared, and a step (B) in which fine bubbles with diameters of 0.05-500 ?m are generated in the suspension to form a reaction mixture, and the iron(II) in the reaction mixture is oxidized by the bubbles to produce iron oxyhydroxide particles.

Abstract: An atmospheric leaching process for the recovery of a nickel and cobalt from a lateritic ore, said process including the steps: (a) preparing a slurry of the lateritic ore with saline or hypersaline water having a total dissolved solids (TDS) content greater than 30 g/L; (b) leaching the slurry of the lateritic ore with sulfuric acid at atmospheric pressure, (c) recovering nickel and cobalt from the resultant leachate.

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 heap leach process for the recovery of nickel and cobalt from a lateritic ore, said process including the steps of leaching and/or agglomerating the ore with a lixiviant that includes ferrous ions, wherein the lixiviant is able to liberate cobalt from the cobalt containing minerals within the ore in preference to nickel, to produce a cobalt rich pregnant leach solution relatively free of nickel.