Abstract: This process for enriching nickel-bearing oxide ore comprises pulping the ore, washing the pulped ore for at least 1 minute, sorting the washed ore in a damp environment so as to separate at least one fine fraction from a granular fraction, subjecting the fine fraction to densimetric separation at a dividing density of between 1.7 and 2.5 and recovering the light fraction separated off as enriched ore.

Abstract: A method of spreading a pulp for the purpose of drying it naturally, the pulp having a solid fraction which has a d.sub.80 of less than 100 microns. This method comprises the following steps:(a) adjusting the level of solids of the pulp to between 2 and 25%;(b) adding a flocculating agent to the pulp and mixing it with same, the amount of said flocculating agent being between two-thirds of 98% of the optimum required fo the flocculation of said pulp; and(c) spreading the mixture of pulp and flocculating agent, in the open air, in a bed the sides of which are permeable, and the bottom of which has a slope of less than 5 meters per 1000 meters, said spreading taking place 1 to 20 minutes after the adding are mixing of the flocculating agent.

Abstract: A method of spreading a pulp for the purpose of drying it naturally, the pulp having a solid fraction which has a d.sub.80 of less than 100 microns. This method comprises the following steps:(a) adjusting the level of solids of the pulp to between 2 and 25%;(b) adding a flocculating agent to the pulp and mixing it with same, the amount of said flocculating agent being between two thirds and 98% of the optimum required for the flocculation of said pulp; and(c) spreading the mixture of pulp and flocculating agent, in the open air, in a bed the sides of which are permeable, and the bottom of which has a slope of less than 5 meters per 1000 meters, said spreading taking place 1 to 20 minutes after the adding and mixing of the flocculating agent.

Abstract: This invention provides a process and apparatus for the wet attrition of ore. The process comprises grinding the ore to a pulp having a particle size distribution such that about 80% by weight of the particles have a diameter of from about 30 to about 0.4 mm; and agitating the pulp in a slightly turbulent medium. The apparatus comprises a vat having top and bottom covers with central openings and a gutter disposed along the exterior circumference of the top of the vat; a cylindrical shaft extending through the opening in the top cover; and a pair of impellers mounted at a distance apart on the shaft, the blades of the impellers being so arranged that the pulp is pumped towards the space defined between the two impellers.

Abstract: A process of upgrading garnieritic ores, oxidized nickelifer ores of lateritic origin which includes subjecting the ore to controlled attrition and classifying particles so formed according to their size, those having a dimension smaller than a predetermined value being recovered.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for making ferro-nickel shot from a molten alloy bath including a granulating adjuvant containing silicon. The resulting shot can be used as soluble anodes for use in electroplating in which a ferro-nickel plating is applied to a substrate.

Abstract: A method for the production of hydroxylated nickel compounds from a solution of nickelous ions. In the first stage, a solution of nickelous ions is electrolyzed while the catholyte is maintained at a pH from about 1 to 6 and at a temperature of less than about 50.degree. C. In the second stage, the precipitate obtained during the first stage is recovered. The method is applied to the production of highly pure nickel hydroxide.

Abstract: A process of electrodepositing a layer of ferro-nickel alloy using a soluble anode consisting of anodic baskets filled with ferro-nickel shot of a composition substantially identical to that of the layer which it is desired to deposit.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for treating a nickel matte to recover essentially pure nickel comprising: treating an aqueous mixture of the matte with chlorine to produce a solid residue and an aqueous lixiviating solution having a pH value which is substantially nil or positive; treating the lixiviating solution to produce a solution containing primarily nickel chloride; and electrolyzing the solution to recover pure nickel at the cathode.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for producing ferro-alloys from ore in which an ore is first mixed with a solid reducing agent, preheated and pre-reduced in a rotary kiln, and smelted in an electric furnace, in which the pre-reduced ore is heated by a burner provided in the electric furnace where it is also reoxidized. The ore is also heated in the rotary kiln by recycled gas.

Abstract: The invention provides a process of producing steels containing nickel, particularly corrosion-resistant steels, which involves refining the metal bath obtained from the smelting of a ferro-nickel by adding to said metal bath in a refining converter ferro-nickel shot while concurrently contacting the metal bath with an oxygen-containing gas, e.g., a mixture of oxygen and argon, the addition of the ferro-nickel shot being carried out while controlling the flow rate of the shot in such a way that the temperature of the converter is maintained at a pre-selected level and the contacting of the oxygen-containing gas with the bath being carried out until the carbon content of the bath is reduced to a low level, e.g., about 0.04%. The inventive process permits the initial carbon and silicon levels of the metal bath to exceed 1% and 0.4%, respectively.

Abstract: A process for the production of substantially pure hydrated nickel sulphate which involves reacting sulphuric acid with nickel chloride at the boiling point of the reaction mixture and partially removing formed hydrogen chloride gas. The reaction mixture is clarified to separate impurities, the formed nickel sulphate is crystallized from the clarified mixture, and the mother-liquor obtained at this stage recycled to an earlier stage of the process. The crystals of nickel sulphate are dried and the mother-liquid obtained at this stage, then recycled to an earlier stage of the process. The hydrated nickel sulphate obtained is substantially pure and essentially free of chloride ions.

Abstract: A method of extracting constituent metal values from sea nodules containing copper, cobalt, iron and nickel is disclosed. The method involves melting the nodules under reducing conditions to obtain a concentrate containing said metals and reacting the metal concentrate in an aqueous medium with gaseous chlorine to obtain an aqueous solution containing the chlorides of said metal. Copper is thereafter precipitated from the aqueous solution and subsequently electrorefined, while the iron and cobalt are extracted from the aqueous solution by means of organic extractants and then re-extracted from the organic phases by aqueous phases.

Abstract: A method is provided of continuously producing and recovering metallic chlorides.

Abstract: A cell for producing metal by electrolysis of aqueous solutions of the relevant chloride comprises at least one electrolytic tank having upright cathodes and upright insoluble anodes alternating in the longitudinal direction of the tank, each anode being surrounded by an anodic box whose sides which face cathodes each comprise a diaphragm, the cell further comprising means of collecting and recovering the chlorine released during electrolysis, means of drawing off vapor generated at the surface of the electrolyte, means of blowing gas into the bottom of the tank below each cathode, and rack-mounted U-shaped guide-rail locating means for use in placing and for retaining in position the cathodes, the anodes and the anodic boxes.