Commissariat a L'energie Atomique

Michele Robaglia

Pierre Faugeras

Pierre Miquel

Jacques Barriere

The method comprises the steps of crushing of the ore, neutralization by a mixture of water and sulphuric acid, introduction of a controlled quantity of sulphur dioxide gas at a pH value between 1.5 and 4 for promoting dissolution of nickel, copper and a desired quantity of manganese, leaching of the ore with sulphuric acid at a pH value between 1 and 3 for selectively dissolving the nickel and copper, separation of the solid and liquid phases, and separation of the metals contained in the liquid phase.

Extraction of metals from sea nodules

A hydrochloric acid leach solution is subjected to a first cycle of extraction by an organic solvent, solvent washing and stripping so that the stripping liquor contains iron, zinc, cadmium and gallium while the liquor constituted by the first raffinate at the outlet of the extraction unit mainly contains nickel, cobalt and copper. In a second extraction cycle, the stripping liquor contains copper while the second raffinate mainly contains cobalt and nickel. In a third extraction cycle, the stripping liquor contains cobalt while the third raffinate mainly contains nickel.

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Orsay, France

Michele Robaglia