Thermodynamic analysis of the reduction process of Colombian lateritic nickel ore

Authors

  • Sandra C. Díaz Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Facultad de Minas
  • Adriana Garcés Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Facultad de Minas
  • Oscar J. Restrepo Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Facultad de Minas
  • Misael A. Lara Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas
  • Jesús E. Camporredondo Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila, Facultad de Ingeniería Mecánica y Eléctrica

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3989/revmetalm.057

Keywords:

Ferro-nickel reduction, Nickeliferous laterite, Ratio C/O, Thermodynamic analysis

Abstract


The Colombian nickeliferous laterites are minerals used for the nickel extraction by hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical processes. In this work the thermodynamic behaviour of three Colombian lateritic mineral samples are described, with contents of 1.42%, 1.78% y 2.04% of nickel, when they are subjected to the calcination and reduction processes. The mineral was characterized using X Rays Diffraction and X Rays Fluorescence, giving evidence of the presence of mineralogical species such as nepouite (Ni3Si2O5(OH)4), goethite (Fe2O3.H2O), silica (SiO2), antigorite (Mg3Si2O5(OH)4) and fosferite (Mg2SiO4). The thermodynamic analysis was conducted using the software HSC Chemistry for Windows 5.1 and was focused in the quantitative determination of the chemical evolution of the mixture of these minerals with variable quantities of coal, in function of temperature. The results produced by the program showed, in the equilibrium, the feasibility of complete reduction of the nickel, and additionally, a considerable high percentage of reduction of iron oxides (up to 99%) using ratio C/O ≈1 at temperatures close to 1100 °C.

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References

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Published

2015-12-30

How to Cite

Díaz, S. C., Garcés, A., Restrepo, O. J., Lara, M. A., & Camporredondo, J. E. (2015). Thermodynamic analysis of the reduction process of Colombian lateritic nickel ore. Revista De Metalurgia, 51(4), e057. https://doi.org/10.3989/revmetalm.057

Issue

Vol. 51 No. 4 (2015)

Section

Articles

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