REDUCTIVE LEACHING OF LIMONITIC LATERITES USING FERROUS SULPHATE

摘要

This study was carried out on a limonitic laterite from New Caledonia. The main objective was to evaluate the atmospheric leaching of the ore in ammonium sulphate media using ferrous sulphate as reductant. Different parameters were examined, such as total ammonia concentration, temperature and ferrous sulphate concentration. At 80°C, 130 g/1 of total ammonia, 2.73 g FeSO_4/g ore and pH 8.2, nickel extraction was 64 % while 20 % of cobalt remained in solution after 8 hours.