The recovery of nickel from high-pressure acid leach solutions using mixed hydroxide product – LIX®84-INS technology

This route for the recovery of nickel from HPAL laterite solutions was successfully demonstrated by the Centaur Mining Cawse Nickel Operation and has been selected by BHPBilliton for their Ravensthorpe Nickel–Yabulu Refinery circuit. The mixed hydroxide route is also well suited to treatment of solutions by other leach processes such as Activox®. chnology can use an acid strip coupled to nickel electrowinning or an ammonia strip and basic nickel carbonate production. The solvent extraction technology involved in these two circuits is reviewed and compared. The ancillary operations of pregnant leach solution clarification, reagent remediation, reductive stripping of cobalt, zinc and copper transfers are discussed. The treatment of ammoniacal leach solutions containing higher copper concentrations than those normally seen in laterite processing is also addressed. le routes for recovery of cobalt and nickel from the solvent extraction circuit are also discussed.