Sulfation roasting of nickel concentrate to generate water-soluble metal sulfates was investigated as an alternative process to smelting for the recovery of valuable metals. The kinetics of dissolution of various species of the calcine in three leachants was studied; hot water, dilute HC1, and concentrated HC1. The results indicated that dissolution of sulfates by hot water at 90 °C is achieved within 30 minutes. In order to increase the recovery of the valuable metals, acid leaching is necessary due to the existence of ferrite in the calcine.
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