IP Library Granted Patent US 12662715
Granted Patent B2
US 12662715 · App. 18/870,496 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Comprehensive utilization method for valuable elements in hydrometallurgical slag of laterite nickel ore

Inventors: Kaihua Xu (Shenzhen, CN); Satryo Soemantri Brodjonegoro (Jakarta, ID); Guangyuan Wu (Jakarta, ID); Tegar Mukti Aji (Jakarta, ID); Andi Syaputra Hasibuan (Jakarta, ID); Rizky Wanaldi (Jakarta, ID); Evan Wahyu Kristiyanto (Jakarta, ID); Piyan Rahmadi (Jakarta, ID)
Assignees: PT QMB NEW ENERGY MATERIALS; PT ESG NEW ENERGY MATERIAL; GEM CO., LTD.; PT GEM INDONESIA NEW ENERGY MATERIALS
C22B7/04C22B3/22C22B3/44C22B7/007C22B21/0023C22B23/0423C22B23/0461C22B59/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12662715
App. No.
18/870,496
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A comprehensive utilization method for valuable elements in hydrometallurgical slag of laterite nickel ore, comprising the following steps: S1. placing an iron-aluminum slag produced by laterite nickel ore hydrometallurgy in a tube furnace, and introducing an HCl gas stream for a one-stage distillation at 185-290° C. to obtain a one-stage distillation tail gas and a one-stage distillation residue; and condensing the one-stage distillation tail gas to obtain anhydrous AlCl 3 ; S2. introducing an HCl gas stream to the one-stage distillation residue for a two-stage distillation at 320-500° C. to obtain a two-stage distillation tail gas and a two-stage distillation residue; and condensing the two-stage distillation tail gas to obtain anhydrous FeCl 3 ; S3. subjecting the two-stage distillation residue to a leaching treatment by using a leaching solution to obtain a leaching residue and a leaching solution; subjecting the leaching solution to a scandium precipitation treatment to obtain a scandium precipitate and a de-scandiumed liquid; S4. adjusting the pH value of the de-scandiumed liquid to obtain an MHP. The obtained aluminum, iron, and scandium products have high purity and high recovery.

Claims (19)

1 . A comprehensive utilization method for valuable elements in hydrometallurgical slag of laterite nickel ore, characterized by comprising the following steps:

S1, placing an iron-aluminum slag produced by laterite nickel ore hydrometallurgy in a tube furnace, and introducing an HCl gas stream for a one-stage distillation at 185-290° C. to obtain a one-stage distillation tail gas and a one-stage distillation residue; and condensing the one-stage distillation tail gas to obtain anhydrous AlCl 3 ;

S2, introducing an HCl gas stream to the one-stage distillation residue for a two-stage distillation at 320-500° C. to obtain a two-stage distillation tail gas and a two-stage distillation residue; and condensing the two-stage distillation tail gas to obtain anhydrous FeCl 3 ;

S3, subjecting the two-stage distillation residue to a leaching treatment by using an extracting solution to obtain a leaching residue and a leaching solution; subjecting the leaching solution to a scandium precipitation treatment to obtain a scandium precipitate and a de-scandiumed liquid; and

S4, adjusting the pH value of the de-scandiumed liquid for a precipitation treatment to obtain a mixed hydroxide precipitate (MHP).

2 . The comprehensive utilization method for valuable elements in hydrometallurgical slag of laterite nickel ore according to claim 1 , wherein step S1 further comprises absorbing the HCl gas stream after the one-stage distillation by using lye, and step S2 further comprises absorbing the HCl gas stream after the two-stage distillation by using lye.

3 . The comprehensive utilization method for valuable elements in hydrometallurgical slag of laterite nickel ore according to claim 2 , wherein the flow rate of HCl gas streams used in the one-stage distillation and the two-stage distillation is kept constant, and the concentration of the lye in step S1 and step S2 is kept constant.

4 . The comprehensive utilization method for valuable elements in hydrometallurgical slag of laterite nickel ore according to claim 1 , wherein the extracting solution in step S3 is water or acid; the solid-liquid ratio of the two-stage distillation residue to the leaching solution is 50-200 g/L; the leaching temperature is 20-25° C.; and the leaching time is 0.5-2 h.

5 . The comprehensive utilization method for valuable elements in hydrometallurgical slag of laterite nickel ore according to claim 3 , wherein the acid is one or more of inorganic acid or organic acid, and the concentration of the acid is 0.001-0.1 mol/L.

6 . The comprehensive utilization method for valuable elements in hydrometallurgical slag of laterite nickel ore according to claim 1 , wherein in step S3, the scandium precipitation treatment comprises the following steps: adjusting the pH of the leaching solution to 4-6 and filtering to obtain the scandium precipitate and the de-scandiumed liquid, wherein the scandium precipitate is one or more of scandium hydroxide and scandium oxalate.

7 . The comprehensive utilization method for valuable elements in hydrometallurgical slag of laterite nickel ore according to claim 1 , wherein step S3 further comprises calcining the scandium precipitate at 500-1000° C. for 0.5-5 h to obtain scandium oxide.

8 . The comprehensive utilization method for valuable elements in hydrometallurgical slag of laterite nickel ore according to claim 1 , wherein the leaching residue comprises a mixture of SiO 2 and CaSO 4 , the leaching residue being used for the manufacture of environmentally friendly permeable brick or ceramsite.

9 . The comprehensive utilization method for valuable elements in hydrometallurgical slag of laterite nickel ore according to claim 1 , wherein in step S4, the pH is 9-10.

10 . The comprehensive utilization method for valuable elements in hydrometallurgical slag of laterite nickel ore according to claim 1 , wherein the flow rate of the HCl gas streams for the one-stage distillation and the two-stage distillation is 10-300 ml/min, and the introduction time is 0.5-3 h.

11 . The comprehensive utilization method for valuable elements in hydrometallurgical slag of laterite nickel ore according to claim 1 , wherein in the process of introducing the HCl gas stream, the following reactions gradually occur by controlling the distillation temperature:

the hydroxides of iron, aluminum, and scandium are respectively converted into the corresponding solid salts by introducing HCl;

AlCl 3 is sublimated from a solid state(s) to a gas state (g) by controlling T (185-290° C.) under introducing HCl; and

FeCl 3 is sublimated from a solid state(s) to a gas state (g) by controlling T (320-500° C.) under introducing HCl.

12 . The comprehensive utilization method for valuable elements in hydrometallurgical slag of laterite nickel ore according to claim 1 , wherein the lye comprises one or more of ammonia and sodium hydroxide, and the concentration of the lye is 1-3 mol/L.