Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a two step solvent extraction circuit to remove impurity metals of zinc and cobalt selectively from a valuable metal of nickel. In order to selectively extract zinc there must be sufficient separation between zinc and cobalt in the cyanex 272 system. Similarly for cobalt and nickel, the separation factor must be of sufficient magnitude to obtain a pure nickel product. The process for the solvent extraction of impurity metals is operated at a temperature exceeding 60° C. being the maximum temperature at which solvent extraction circuits conventionally operate.

Abstract: A process for recovering valuable metals from laterite ores and concentrates that are contaminated with iron is disclosed. The process includes reducing ferric ions to ferrous ions in a leach liquor containing a valuable metal and iron in solution using a reductant, neutralising the liquor to reduce the free acid concentration in solution to levels suitable for nickel precipitation; and precipitating the valuable metal using the reductant and seed particles under process conditions, including one or more of seed particle size, seed composition, and temperature, that are selected to maximise nickel precipitation and to minimise iron precipitation.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a two step solvent extraction circuit to remove impurity metals of zinc and cobalt selectively from a valuable metal of nickel. In order to selectively extract zinc there must be sufficient separation between zinc and cobalt in the cyanex 272 system. Similarly for cobalt and nickel, the separation factor must be of sufficient magnitude to obtain a pure nickel product. The process for the solvent extraction of impurity metals is operated at a temperature exceeding 60° C. being the maximum temperature at which solvent extraction circuits conventionally operate.