The Direct Leaching of Nickel Sulfide Flotation Concentrates - A Historic and State-of-the-Art Review Part III: Laboratory Investigations into Atmospheric Leach Processes

The following review is Part III of a series concerned with the direct hydrometallurgical processing of nickel sulfide flotation concentrates. In the first part of this series, piloted leaching processes and commercial nickel sulfide operations that employed direct hydrometallurgical processing were comprehensively reviewed. In the second part of this series, laboratory investigations into pressure leaching of nickel sulfide concentrates were critically analyzed. In Part III of this series, laboratory investigations into the leaching of nickeliferous sulfide concentrates at ambient pressure are reviewed, and the challenges and research opportunities in the direct leaching of nickel sulfide flotation concentrates are summarized. The majority of the published studies on atmospheric leaching of nickel sulfide flotation concentrates have focused on leaching in chloride media due to the faster leaching kinetics in chloride lixiviants relative to sulfate media; bioleaching due to the perceived environmental advantages over other leaching systems; and pyrometallurgical pre-treatments to render refractory sulfide minerals more amenable to subsequent leaching.

Automated summary

This article reviews laboratory investigations into the leaching of nickeliferous sulfide concentrates at ambient pressure, and summarizes the challenges and research opportunities in the direct leaching of nickel sulfide flotation concentrates. The majority of the studies have focused on leaching in chloride media, bioleaching, and pyrometallurgical pre-treatments.