Abstract
The AMAX Acid Leach Process for oxide nickel ores generates leach liquors that can vary considerably in their nickel, cobalt, iron, aluminum, manganese, and magnesium concentrations. The nickel and cobalt can be selectively precipitated as sulfides using H2S gas at temperatures below 100°C and pressures of about 1 atmosphere gauge. Almost complete precipitation is obtained in about an hour by providing adequate agitation and a high concentration of recycled solids to act as seed. These operating conditions either eliminate or considerably reduce 1) the necessity of using expensive high-pressure reactors and equipment, 2) recovery, compression, and recycle of large quantities of H2S gas, and 3) heavy scaling of precipitation vessels. This process has been demonstrated on several leach liquors in a pilot plant operated for more than a year. Typical results are presented to show the versatility of the process and the effect of major process variables on efficiency.
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