Process to produce rough ferro-nickel product
Aspects of the present invention refer to a MHP process do produce rough ferro-nickel product and that may include the steps of mixing nickel hydroxide with an iron source and slagging agents, putting the mixture in contact with a reducing agent producing a ferronickel alloy, and producing a roasted product that has disseminated ferronickel alloy inside the structure.
1. A process to produce rough Ferro-Nickel product, comprising the steps of:
(i) mixing nickel hydroxide with an iron source and slagging agents to produce a mixture, wherein the iron source comprises iron ore or metallic agent;
(ii) contacting the mixture with a reducing agent to produce a ferronickel alloy; and
(iii) producing a roasted product that has disseminated ferronickel alloy inside the structure thereof.
2. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the slagging agents are selected from the group consisting of MgO, SiO 2 , CaCO 3 , CaF 2 and CaO.
3. The process according to claim 2 , wherein a total amount of slagging agents is between 5 and 500% of ferronickel mass.
4. The process according to claim 3 , wherein the total amount of slagging agents is between 10% and 30% of the ferronickel mass.
5. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the reducing agent is selected from the group consisting of carbon, natural gas and hydrogen.
6. The process according to claim 5 , wherein the amount of reducing agent is between 50 and 500% of a stoichiometric amount for producing metallic ferronickel.
7. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the step of producing a roasted product is performed in a furnace at a temperature ranging from 500 to 2000° C.
8. The process according to claim 7 , wherein a residence time is approximately 6 hours.
9. A process to produce rough Ferro-Nickel product, comprising the steps of:
(i) mixing nickel hydroxide with an iron source and slagging agents to produce a mixture;
(ii) contacting the mixture with a reducing agent to produce a ferronickel alloy; and
(iii) producing a roasted product that has disseminated ferronickel alloy inside the structure thereof, wherein producing a roasted product is performed in a furnace at a temperature ranging from 700° C. and 1200° C.