Claims
- 1. A process for pressure leaching a feed slurry including nickel-cobalt-copper-containing sulfidic flotation concentrate comprising finely grinding the flotation concentrate to a particulate size ranging between 6 to 30 microns, preparing a second slurry containing the finely ground flotation concentrate, contacting the second slurry with an oxygen and chloride containing gaseous stream in an atmospheric acid leach to thereby generate a pressure leach feed slurry containing 2 to 40 g/L concentration of chloride ions therein, and subjecting the pressure leach feed slurry to an oxidative pressure leach under acidic conditions at a temperature of 150° C. to selectively leach the majority of the nickel, cobalt and copper therefrom to form a nickel, cobalt, copper containing leach solution and an oxidative pressure leach residue.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/664,475 filed Sep. 18, 2000 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,428,604.
US Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
6428604 |
Kerfoot et al. |
Aug 2002 |
B1 |
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09/664475 |
Sep 2000 |
US |
Child |
10/175023 |
|
US |