Separation of Co(II) and Ni(II) from chloride leach solution of nickel laterite ore by solvent extraction with Cyanex 301

Abstract

A hydrometallurgical process was developed to recover Co(II) and Ni(II) from the chloride leach liquor of laterite ore. Most of Co(II) and Ni(II) together with a small amount of Al(III) were selectively extracted over other elements by Cyanex 301 from the feed solution at pH 1 which contained Co(II), Ni(II), Al(III), Ca(II), Mg(II) and Mn(II). From the loaded Cyanex 301, Co(II) and Al(III) were selectively stripped by 3 M HCl solution, and then Ni(II) was completely stripped by 10 M HCl solution. The McCabe-Thiele plots for the extraction and stripping isotherms were constructed. Batch simulation experiments for the counter-current extraction and stripping indicated that the recovery percentage of Co(II) and Ni(II) was 92.6 and 95.7%, respectively. Moreover, the purity of Ni(II) in the stripping solution was reached 99.5%. A process flowsheet for the recovery of Co(II) and Ni(II) from the laterite leach liquor was proposed.