Abstract: It is described a method for recovering rare earth elements from low grade ores including a first metal selected group containing at least one of iron and aluminum and a second metal selected from the group consisting of at least of the rare earth elements (lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, yttrium and scandium), the method comprising the steps of: (i) contacting the ore with sulfuric acid to obtain sulfates of the first group of metals, (ii) subjecting the mixture to high temperatures in order to convert the first group of sulfates into phosphates or other stable species and the second group into sulfates, (iii) adding water to the cool mixture, selectively dissolving the rare earth elements and (iv) subjecting the rare earth solution to a purification process.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a hybrid process using ion exchange resins in the selective recovery of nickel and cobalt of leaching effluents that is comprised of the steps of processing (1) the laterite ore (M), which is then treated through leaching (2) (either atmospheric or under pressure), considering solutions from the solid-liquid separation step of existing plants already in operation (2) as well, in a way that the downstream process comprises an ion exchange hybrid circuit, wherein the first ion exchange step (3) with resins (Re) exhibits specific selectivity conditions for the removal of iron, aluminum and copper and an increased pH, and the second ion exchange step (4) allows the removal of nickel and cobalt.

Abstract: A method for recovering base metal values from oxide ore is provided by the present disclosure. The ore includes a first metal selected from the group consisting at least one of iron and aluminum and a second metal selected from the group consisting of at least one of nickel, cobalt and copper. The method includes the steps of: contacting the oxide ore with hydrogen chloride gas to obtain chlorides of the first and second metals and subjecting at least the first and second metals to pyrohydrolysis at a predetermined temperature to decompose the chlorides of the first metal into oxides. The method also includes the step of mixing the oxides of the first metal and the chlorides of the second metal in an aqueous solution to dissolve the chlorides of the second metal and recovering the dissolved ions of the second metal from the aqueous solution.

Abstract: A process to use ferric sulphate equilibrium to reduce overall acid consumption and iron extraction, the process comprising the steps of: (i) sulphating; (ii) selective pyrolysis and (iii) selective dissolution.

Abstract: The process, according to the invention, comprises the following stages: (a) processing (1) of the laterite ore (O) by crushing, scrubbing, attrition, separation, and high-intensity magnetic separation; (b) Leaching (2) of the non-magnetic fraction (CN) obtained form the previous stage (a); (c) optionally, neutralization (3) of the effluent from the leaching and/or solid-liquid separation stages (4); (d) treatment of the effluents from stages (b) or (c) using an ion-exchange hybrid system (5) comprising at least one circuit for removal of impurities and at least one circuit for recovery of nickel and cobalt; (e) elution (6) of the ion-exchange resin used; (f) separation, purification, and recovery (7) of the nickel and cobalt.

Abstract: A process to use ferric sulphate equilibrium to reduce overall acid consumption and iron extraction, the process comprising the steps of: (i) sulphating; (ii) selective pyrolysis and (iii) selective dissolution.

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: A hydrometallurgical resin-in-leach (RIL) process for directly recovering nickel and/or cobalt. Simultaneous pulp leaching by adding an acid or base, dissolves the metals of interest with adsorption of the metals rendered soluble in on ionic exchange resin. Following elution of the changed resin, purification of nickel and cobalt present in the eluate can be recovered by conventional methods, such as precipitation, extraction by solvents and membranes. The regenerated resin is recirculated for further use.

Abstract: The process, according to the invention, comprises the following stages: (a) processing (1) of the laterite ore (O) by crushing, scrubbing, attrition, separation, and high-intensity magnetic separation; (b) Leaching (2) of the non-magnetic fraction (CN) obtained form the previous stage (a); (c) optionally, neutralization (3) of the effluent from the leaching and/or solid-liquid separation stages (4); (d) treatment of the effluents from stages (b) or (c) using an ion-exchange hybrid system (5) comprising at least one circuit for removal of impurities and at least one circuit for recovery of nickel and cobalt; (e) elution (6) of the ion-exchange resin used; (f) separation, purification, and recovery (7) of the nickel and cobalt.

Abstract: A method for recovering base metal values from oxide ore is provided by the present disclosure. The ore includes a first metal selected from the group consisting at least one of iron and aluminum and a second metal selected from the group consisting of at least one of nickel, cobalt and copper. The method includes the steps of: contacting the oxide ore with hydrogen chloride gas to obtain chlorides of the first and second metals and subjecting at least the first and second metals to pyrohydrolysis at a predetermined temperature to decompose the chlorides of the first metal into oxides. The method also includes the step of mixing the oxides of the first metal and the chlorides of the second metal in an aqueous solution to dissolve the chlorides of the second metal and recovering the dissolved ions of the second metal from the aqueous solution.

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: The present invention is related to a hydrometallurgical process to produce nickel as hydroxide, oxide or cathode and produce cobalt preferably as sulfides. The present invention is particularly adequate to process eluate containing nickel and cobalt. Eluates are solutions obtained from elution of ionic exchange resins, loaded (charged) in the RIP (resin-in-pulp) process of ionic exchange, to recover nickel and cobalt from effluent pulps in acid leaching. Following nickel and cobalt recovery in a RIP circuit, they are separated from each other via a continuous ionic exchange process, after which the nickel eluate is formed to produce nickel as nickel oxide by a pyrohydrolysis process.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a hydro-metallurgical process using resin-in-neutralized-solution in heap leaching effluent. More specifically, the process is applicable to lateritic ore, nickel oxidate, cobalt oxidate or a mixture containing metals of interest—nickel, cobalt and other secondary metals, wherein ore is leached by adding an acid or a base with possible pH adjustment, aided by acid or base with neutralization of heap leaching effluent, by adding lime, limestone, soda or ammonia in the temperature of 70° to 95° C.

Abstract: A hydrometallurgical resin-in-leach (RIL) process for directly recovering nickel and/or cobalt. Simultaneous pulp leaching by adding an acid or base, dissolves the metals of interest with adsorption of the metals rendered soluble in on ionic exchange resin. Following elution of the changed resin, purification of nickel and cobalt present in the eluate can be recovered by conventional methods, such as precipitation, extraction by solvents and membranes. The regenerated resin is recirculated for further use.

Abstract: “HYBRID PROCESS USING ION EXCHANGE RESINS IN THE SELECTIVE RECOVERY OF NICKEL AND COBALT FROM LEACHING EFFLUENTS” The present invention is directed to a hybrid process using ion exchange resins in the selective recovery of nickel and cobalt of leaching effluents that is comprised of the steps of processing (1) the laterite ore (M), which is then treated through leaching (2) (either atmospheric or under pressure), considering solutions from the solid-liquid separation step of existing plants already in operation (2) as well, in a way that the downstream process comprises an ion exchange hybrid circuit, wherein the first ion exchange step (3) with resins (Re) exhibits specific selectivity conditions for the removal of iron, aluminum and copper and an increased pH, and the second ion exchange step (4) allows the removal of nickel and cobalt.

Abstract: THE COMBINED LEACHING PROCESS comprises a dissolution process of the soluble constituents of an ore by means of the combined execution of two or more serial leaching phases with the first phase comprising atmospheric leaching (AL) and the second one pressure leaching (HPAL). This combined process takes place when the intermediate size fraction (0.075-0.5 mm) is submitted to atmospheric leaching (AL), ensuing an effluent with a high concentration of dissolved iron and aluminum as well as high residual acidity. This said effluent is fed in the following acid pressure leaching (HPAL) phase of the fine size fraction (<0.075 mm) and at reusing free acidity, regenerating the sulfuric acid through iron and aluminum precipitation in a hydrolysis reaction, and bringing forth a considerable reduction in the addition of sulfuric acid.