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Mineralogical Characterization of Limonitic Laterite from Africa and Its Proposed Processing Route

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Abstract

The mineralogical characterization and occurrence of target elements in limonitic laterite from Africa was comprehensively studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy energy spectrum (SEM–EDS), and optical microscope (OM) measurements. The results suggest that laterite ore has a complex internal structure. In the limonitic laterite, the contents of Ni, Co, and Fe are 1.14%, 0.16%, and 45.91%, respectively. The limonitic laterite mainly contains 72.2% iron oxide/oxyhydroxide, 9.37% silicate, 6.22% chlorite. Limonite, chlorite, and manganese oxide are the main nickel carrier with distribution rates of 60.98%, 22.65%, and 13.94%, respectively. Cobalt is hosted in manganese oxides and iron oxides, respectively. Additionally, Au, Pt, Pd, and Ag are also detected in the limonitic laterite. Gold, platinum, and silver are mainly found in their native metals. Palladium is mainly dispersed in the iron minerals. Furthermore, the route of rotary kiln-electric furnace (RKEF) was selected to this limonitic laterite; the results demonstrate that comprehensive recovery efficiency of Ni, Co, Fe is high with recovery rate of 98.72%, 98.38%, 54.89%, respectively. Notably, the majority of noble metals such as Au, Pt, Pd are enriched in crude ferronickel.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51974025, U1802253, 51674026), the State Key Laboratory of Nickel and Cobalt Resources Comprehensive Utilization Research Project (JKY2019-09), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (FRF-TT-19-001).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Metallurgical and Ecological Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China

    Ding Zhao, Baozhong Ma, Bingding Shi, Zhengen Zhou, Peng Xing & Chengyan Wang

  2. State Key Laboratory of Nickel and Cobalt Resources Comprehensive Utilization, Jingchang, 737104, China

    Baozhong Ma

  3. Faculty of Materials Metallurgy and Chemistry, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, 86 Hongqi Avenue, Zhanggong District, Ganzhou, 341000, China

    Chengyan Wang

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  1. Ding Zhao
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Zhao, D., Ma, B., Shi, B. et al. Mineralogical Characterization of Limonitic Laterite from Africa and Its Proposed Processing Route. J. Sustain. Metall. 6, 491–503 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40831-020-00290-7

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