Nickel and Cobalt Extraction from Greek Laterites Using Nitrate Solutions

The extraction of nickel and cobalt from a limonitic laterite sample, derived from a mine area in the Greek island of Euboea, was studied via an acid agitation leach process with nitric acid as the leaching agent, to determine the optimal conditions at which the highest possible extractions of nicke...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Iraklis Varsamos, Anthimos Xenidis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-09-01
Series:Materials Proceedings
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4605/15/1/91
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849706006357999616
author Iraklis Varsamos
Anthimos Xenidis
author_facet Iraklis Varsamos
Anthimos Xenidis
author_sort Iraklis Varsamos
collection DOAJ
description The extraction of nickel and cobalt from a limonitic laterite sample, derived from a mine area in the Greek island of Euboea, was studied via an acid agitation leach process with nitric acid as the leaching agent, to determine the optimal conditions at which the highest possible extractions of nickel and cobalt were obtained in the pregnant solution. Two series of experiments were carried out. In the first series, the extractability of metals was studied by varying the leaching temperature at values of 60 °C, 80 °C and 100 °C. For the second series of tests, the metals’ extraction at different values of initial nitric acid concentrations of 1M, 2M and 4M was examined. Based on the results, the effect of temperature is characterized as particularly significant, as with its increase, the final recoveries of nickel and cobalt were particularly high. The variation in acid concentration had a significant effect but not like that of temperature. For extraction conditions of an S/L ratio of 20%, a temperature of 100 °C and a 2M HNO<sub>3</sub> concentration, the highest recoveries of nickel and cobalt were obtained, namely 94.4% and 83.6%, respectively. Iron in all tests did not exceed dissolutions of more than 7.2% in the pregnant solution.
format Article
id doaj-art-dc6efd9f2c4a4cb1b3d7e242a146f144
institution DOAJ
issn 2673-4605
language English
publishDate 2024-09-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Materials Proceedings
spelling doaj-art-dc6efd9f2c4a4cb1b3d7e242a146f1442025-08-20T03:16:19ZengMDPI AGMaterials Proceedings2673-46052024-09-011519110.3390/materproc2023015091Nickel and Cobalt Extraction from Greek Laterites Using Nitrate SolutionsIraklis Varsamos0Anthimos Xenidis1School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Athens, GreeceSchool of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Athens, GreeceThe extraction of nickel and cobalt from a limonitic laterite sample, derived from a mine area in the Greek island of Euboea, was studied via an acid agitation leach process with nitric acid as the leaching agent, to determine the optimal conditions at which the highest possible extractions of nickel and cobalt were obtained in the pregnant solution. Two series of experiments were carried out. In the first series, the extractability of metals was studied by varying the leaching temperature at values of 60 °C, 80 °C and 100 °C. For the second series of tests, the metals’ extraction at different values of initial nitric acid concentrations of 1M, 2M and 4M was examined. Based on the results, the effect of temperature is characterized as particularly significant, as with its increase, the final recoveries of nickel and cobalt were particularly high. The variation in acid concentration had a significant effect but not like that of temperature. For extraction conditions of an S/L ratio of 20%, a temperature of 100 °C and a 2M HNO<sub>3</sub> concentration, the highest recoveries of nickel and cobalt were obtained, namely 94.4% and 83.6%, respectively. Iron in all tests did not exceed dissolutions of more than 7.2% in the pregnant solution.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4605/15/1/91nickelNicobaltColateriteHNO<sub>3</sub>
spellingShingle Iraklis Varsamos
Anthimos Xenidis
Nickel and Cobalt Extraction from Greek Laterites Using Nitrate Solutions
Materials Proceedings
nickel
Ni
cobalt
Co
laterite
HNO<sub>3</sub>
title Nickel and Cobalt Extraction from Greek Laterites Using Nitrate Solutions
title_full Nickel and Cobalt Extraction from Greek Laterites Using Nitrate Solutions
title_fullStr Nickel and Cobalt Extraction from Greek Laterites Using Nitrate Solutions
title_full_unstemmed Nickel and Cobalt Extraction from Greek Laterites Using Nitrate Solutions
title_short Nickel and Cobalt Extraction from Greek Laterites Using Nitrate Solutions
title_sort nickel and cobalt extraction from greek laterites using nitrate solutions
topic nickel
Ni
cobalt
Co
laterite
HNO<sub>3</sub>
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4605/15/1/91
work_keys_str_mv AT iraklisvarsamos nickelandcobaltextractionfromgreeklateritesusingnitratesolutions
AT anthimosxenidis nickelandcobaltextractionfromgreeklateritesusingnitratesolutions