Nickel Services Summary

ckNICKEL LATERITE PROCESSING
High temperature acid leaching is now an accepted hydrometallurgical alternative to smelting for processing nickel laterite ores.

Conventional flowsheets for nickel laterite processing incorporate a complex series of unit operations. Primary beneficiation precedes a high temperature sulfuric acid leach and subsequent intermediate product recovery by either sulphide or hydroxide precipitation of pay metals. Metal products meeting LME specifications can be recovered by redissolution of intermediate products followed by solvent extraction and metal recovery by hydrogen reduction or electrowinning. These flowsheets all benefit from diligent bench and pilot-scale testing.

A new wave of hybrid processes are being developed and tested around the world. These are centered on flowsheets which incorporate atmospheric leaching either in tandem with high temperature leaching or as a stand-alone unit process replacing pressure acid leaching entirely.

WHAT SGS MINERALS SERVICES OFFERS YOU

• The extensive experience in nickel laterite processing that you need to develop a practical, cost efficient and effective processing route.
  
  Flowsheets for Pinares, Cawse, Murrin Murrin, Ramu, Bulong, Ravensthorpe and Weda Bay were tested or piloted by SGS Minerals Services in Canada or Australia.
  
  
• Facilities in both Canada and Australia with the depth of equipment and expertise to meet your stringent project requirements.
  
  Together we can choose the location and equipment that best suits your needs. With the breadth of our equipment and facilities, we can better accommodate aggressive timelines, various project sizes and your location. This can allow important team members to contribute while balancing other priorities.
  
  
• Our bankable expertise in beneficiation, metal extraction, purification & recovery.
  
  SGS Minerals Services' metallurgical group specializes in extractive metallurgy: we have technical specialists in comminution, beneficiation, flotation, leaching and metal purification and metal recovery strategies. When we create a project team, the right professionals are on it.