Investigation of the fundamentals of nickel laterite ore agglomeration process
Date
2011
Authors
Nosrati, A.
Addai Mensah, J.
Robinson, D.J.
Farrow, J.
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Conference paper
Citation
Chemeca 2011: Engineering a Better World proceedings, 2011, pp.1-9
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Chemeca 2011: Engineering a Better World (18 Sep 2011 - 21 Sep 2011 : Sydney, Australia)
Abstract
Despite Australia's nickel laterite deposits being amongst the largest nickel ore reserves in the world, exploitation via traditional hydrometallurgical process has been difficult. Heap leaching is currently considered as an effective and economic processing pathway for extracting nickel from complex low grade ores. This, however, requires an understanding of the agglomeration process in order to ensure that the optimum agglomerate structure conducive to maximum metal recovery can be engineered. In this study, batch drum agglomeration behaviour of real nickel laterite ores is investigated to determine the conditions conducive for producing robust granules with desirable size distribution (e.g., 5 - 30 mm). Drum agglomeration of siliceous goethitic nickel laterite ore, focussing on the effect of 30 and 44 % w/w H2SO4 solution binder content (15 - 25 wt.%) and acid strength and batch time (2 - 24 min) on the agglomeration behaviour, granule size distribution and integrity/strength was investigated. The results showed that faster nucleation and granule growth was achievable by increasing either the binder content and/or water/acid ratio. These variations of binder content/acidity, however, led to significantly different and in some cases opposite impacts on wet and air-dried agglomerates' compressive strength and integrity.
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Copyright 2015