Separation of Co and Ni from a chloride leach solutions of laterite ore by solvent extraction with extractant mixtures

In order to separate Ni(II) and Co(II) from the chloride leaching solution of nickel laterite ore, solvent extraction experiments with the mixtures of organophosphorus extractants and LIX63 were performed in the pH range from 1 to 3. Among the studied mixtures, a mixture of D2EHPA and LIX63 with the molar ratio of 3:7 showed the best efficiency for the selective extraction of Ni (62%) and Co (96%) from Al and other impurities. High concentration of HCl or H2SO4 could strip Ni from the loaded mixture, while Co was preferentially stripped by low concentration of the acids.