DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNOLOGY FOR PROCESSING UKRAINIAN NICKEL ORES
Tаtуana Oliynyk, Liudmyla Skliar
Kryvyi Rih National University, 11 Vitalii Matusevych Str., Kryvyi Rih, 50027, Ukraine
Email: taoliynik@knu.edu.ua, lyuda.cuclina@knu.edu.ua
Corresponding author: taoliynik@knu.edu.uсa
ABSTRACT. The study investigates material composition of silicate nickel ores from Zakhidno-Lashchivka area in Ukraine. Mineralogical analysis is carried out on nontronite and ochreous samples. Correlation analysis examines the relationship between mineral composition and the content of Fe, Ni, and Co. Thermodynamic calculations are performed using the ASTRA software package. The optimal parameters for the reduction process in the temperature range of 300–3000 K are determined. Technological studies involve reduction roasting to facilitate leaching of oxidised ore in ammoniac solutions. Magnetic separation of roasted material contributes to the recovery of a non-magnetic product containing 2.5–3.2% Ni and a magnetic fraction with 1.8% Ni. Flotation of the roasted product yields concentrates with 3–5% Ni at a recovery rate of 17-50% (sample 1) and 7.4-46% (sample 2). Magnetic cleaning increases the Ni content in the flotation concentrate to 8% for the nontronite sample (sample 1) and up to 7% for the ochreous sample (sample 2). A process flowsheet is developed, involving roasting at 1000°C for 2 hours, followed by ammoniac leaching. After thickening, precipitation, filtration and drying, nickel product (47% Ni, 0.5% Co, 0.8% Fe) with a moisture content of 65–70% is obtained. Nickel precipitation is performed by heating to 80°C for 1 hour, which allows ammonia to be recycled back into the leaching process.
Keywords: ammoniac leaching, nickel, processing technology, reduction roasting
https://doi.org/10.58903/dw18921469
References
Andersson, P., (2020). Chinese assessments of “critical” and “strategic” raw materials: Concepts, categories, policies, and implications. The Extractive Industries and Society, 7 (1), 127-137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exis.2020.01.008
Babii, K.V., Bubnova, O.A., Maleiev, Y.V., Riumina, D.M., Levchenko, K.S. & Ikol, O.O. (2024). Resursy stratehichnykh korysnykh kopalyn Ukrainy: monohrafiia. PBP ‘Ekonomika’ – Dnipro (in Russian). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/390199010
Boroumand, Z., Abdollahi, H., Pashaki, S.N.A., Mirsaleh Mirmohammadi, & Ghorbani, Y. (2025). Enhanced oxidative bioleaching for nickel and metal recovery from arsenic ores moves toward efficient and sustainable extraction. Chemosphere, 370, Article 143944 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.143944
Brown, T. (2018). Measurement of mineral supply diversity and its importance in assessing risk and criticality. Resources Policy, 58, 202-218. doi: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2018.05.007 Carpen, H.L. & Giese, E.C. (2022). Enhancement of nickel laterite ore bioleaching by Burkholderia sp. using a factorial design. Applied Water Science, 12 Article 181 doi: 10.1007/s13201-022-01704-5
Chaerun, S.K., Sulistyo, R.S., Minwal, W.P. & Mubarok, M.Z. (2017). Indirect bioleaching of low-grade nickel limonite and saprolite ores using fungal metabolic organic acids generated by Aspergillus Niger. Hydrometallurgy, 174, 29-37. doi: 10.1016/j.hydromet.2017.08.006
Chaerun, S.K., Winarko, R. & Yushandiana, F. (2023). Biohydrometallurgy: Paving the way for a greener future of mineral processing in Indonesia. Current Research on Biosciences and Biotechnology, 5(1), 299-307. doi: 10.5614/crbb.2023.5.1/8kiz3aoe
Fan, Q., Yuan, S. Wen, J., & He J. (2024). Review on comprehensive utilization of nickel laterite ore. Minerals Engineering, 218, Article 109044. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2024.109044
Li, J.H., Li, Y.Y., Zheng, S., Xiong, D.L., Chen, H. & Zhang, Y.F. (2015). Research review of laterite nickel ore metallurgy. Nonferrous Metals Science and Engineering, 6 (1), 35-40 (in Chinese with English abstract). doi: 10.13264/j.cnki.ysjskx.2015.01.007
Li, J.H., Xu, Z.F. & Wang, R.X. (2019). Fundamental research on chlorination metallurgy technology for lateritic nickel ores. Metallurgical Industry Press, Beijing.
Nurjaman, F., Bahfie, F., Herlina, U., Astuti, W. & Suharno, B. (2020). Kajian literatur parameter proses reduksi selektif bijih nikel laterit. Metal Indonesia, 42(2), 63.
doi: 10.32423/jmi.2020.v42.63-71
Pandey, N., Tripathy, S.K., Patra, S.K. & Jha, G. (2023). Recent progress in hydrometallurgical processing of nickel lateritic ore. Transactions of the Indian Institute of Metals, 76(1), 11-30. doi: 10.1007/s12666-022-02706-2
Roberto, F. & Schippers, A. (2022) Progress in bioleaching: part B, applications of microbial processes by the minerals industries. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 106(18), 5913–5928. doi: 10.1007/s00253-022-12085-9
Santos, A.L., Dybowska, A., Schofield, P.F., Herrington, R.J. & Johnson, D.B. (2020). Sulphur-enhanced reductive bioprocessing of cobalt-bearing materials for base metals recovery. Hydrometallurgy, 195, Article 105396. doi: 10.1016/j.hydromet.2020.105396
Smailov, K. M., Nuruly, Y. & Beisenbiyeva, U. Z. (2022). Development of an Innovative Technology for the Complex Extraction of Nickel and Cobalt from Iron-Silicate Ores. European Journal of Advanced Chemistry Research, 3(4), 10-15. https://doi.org/10.24018/ejchem.2022.3.4.123
Tian, Q.H., Li, Z.C., Wang, Q.M., Wang, S.S. & Guo, X.Y. (2023). Present situation of laterite nickel ore resources and research progress of smelting technology. The Chinese Journal of Nonferrous Metals, 33(9), 2975-2997 (. doi: 10.11817/j.ysxb.1004.0609.2022-43438
Wani, O.B., Khan, S., Shoaib, M., Gonçalves, C., Chen, Z., Zeng, H. & Bobicki, E.R. (2024). Processing of low-grade ultramafic nickel ores: A critical review. Minerals Engineering, 218, Article 108976. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2024.108976
Yue, L., Zhouliang, T., Yuming, L., Changlong, L., Peipei, H. & Jingyi, L. (2024). Past, present and future of high-nickel materials. Nano Energy, 119, 2211-2855. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2023.109070
Zappala, R., Donald, M. & Pownceby, M.I. (2023). Nickel laterite beneficiation and potential for upgrading using high-temperature methods: A review. Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy Review, 45(7), 267-289. doi: 10.1080/08827508.2023.2265533
Zhang, Z-f, Zhang, W-b, Zhang, Z-g & Chen, X-f (2025). Nickel extraction from nickel laterites: Processes, resources, environment and cost. China Geology, 8(1),187-213. https://doi.org/10.31035/cg2024124