Selective sulphidation and flotation of nickel from a nickeliferous laterite ore

The sulphidation of a nickeliferous lateritic ore was studied at temperatures between 450 and 1100 °C and for sulphur additions of 25–1000 kg of sulphur per tonne of ore. The experiments demonstrated that the nickel could be selectively sulphidized to form a nickel–iron sulphide. It was found that both the grade and the sulphidation degree largely depended upon the temperature and the sulphur additions, with temperatures above 550 °C exhibiting the highest nickel sulphidation degrees and grades. A DTA/TGA with mass spectrometer was used to further elucidate the nature of the phase transformations that occurred upon heating of the ore in the presence of sulphur.It was found that at low temperatures, the Fe–Ni–S phase was submicron in nature and heating to temperatures between 1050 and 1100 °C allowed for the growth of the particles, due to the increased sulphide mobility associated with the formation of a liquid sulphide matte phase, containing dissolved oxygen. Flotation studies conducted on 60 g samples showed that the sulphides responded to flotation with maximum grades of up to 6–7 wt.% nickel being achieved. Recoveries were approximately 50% on a sulphide basis and it was determined that the low nickel grades were due to the entrainment of magnetite fines.

► High temperature experiments demonstrated that selective sulphidation is feasible.
► Sulphides were submicron in size but could be physically upgraded.
► Nickel sulphides responded to flotation and grades of 6–8% were achieved.
► Low nickel grade was due to fine particle entrainment.
► Low nickel recovery was due to issues with fine particle grinding and flotation.