SiO₂/MgO Ratio Effect on Carbothermic Reaction of Synthetic Nickelliferrous Mixtures

Abstract:

The objective of this study is to understand the effect of SiO₂/MgO ratio on the reducibility of Fe and Ni in the synthetic nickel laterite mixtures of similar composition to Indonesia saprolitic nickel ore. The samples were made with addition (in wt% basis ) of 12% cokes, 2 % NiO, and varied SiO₂ of 0 %, 10 %, 20%, 30%, and 40 % . Two types of samples were made, with and withou 14% MgO addition. Fe₂O₃ was added to both types of samples as balance. The synthetic compounds were mixed homogenously and compacted, before subjected to carbothermic reduction process at temperature of 1250 °C for 120 minutes. The results showed that Ni was strongly influenced by MgO content after reduction processes. Higher content of MgO was more unfavorable for nickel reduction, while a higher content of SiO₂ was unfavorable for Fe reduction. According to the characterization results of carbothermic product, nickel oxide had been reduced to form Fe-Ni phase. Nickel recovery tends to increase with increasing of SiO₂ addition on sample with MgO addition.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 1112)
• Pages: 542-545
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.1112.542
• Online since: July 2015
• Authors: Sri Harjanto*, Reza M. Ulum
• Keywords: Basicity, Carbothermic, Recovery, Synthetic Nickel Laterite

References

[1] J.D.W. Schulz, B. P. Faulkner, and N. Berlin, Selective Reduction of Nickel Laterite Ores, US Patent 4195986 (1980).

[2] R.E. Siemens and P. C. Good, Process for Recovery of Non-Ferrous Metals From Oxide Ores and Concentrate. US Patent 3929468 (1975).

[3] L.G. Stevens, L. A. Goeller, and M. Miller. Hydrometallurgical Recovery of Nickel Values From Laterite. US Patent 3903241 (1975).

[4] D.Q. Qu, Y. Cui, K. Vining, S. Hapugoda, J. Douglas, J. Pan and G.L. Zheng. Upgrading low nickel content laterite ores using selective reduction followed by magnetic separation. Int. J. of Mineral Processing, 106-109 (2012) 1-7.

DOI: 10.1016/j.minpro.2012.01.003

[5] K. Ishii and J. Shibata. Method For Producing High-Grade Ferro-Nickel Directly From Nickeliferous Oxide Ores. US Patent 3996045 (1975).

[6] M. Kawahara, J. M. Toguri, and R. A. Bergman. Reducibility of Laterite Ore. Metallurgical Transaction B. 19B (1988) 181 – 186.

DOI: 10.1007/bf02654202

[7] T. Utigard and R. A. Bergman, Gaseous Reduction of Laterite Ore. Metallurgical Transaction B. 23B (1992) 271 – 275.

[8] El-Geassy, Abdel Hady, Influence of Silica on the Gaseous Reduction of Wustite with H2, CO and H2-CO Mixtures. ISIJ International, 25 (1985) 1036-1044.

DOI: 10.2355/isijinternational1966.25.1036