RECOVERY OF NICKEL FROM BIOLEACH SOLUTION

摘要

A bioleaching method is provided for recovering a nickel from an ore selected from the group consisting nickel-containing lateritic ores and nickel-containing sulfidic ores or concentrates thereof. Where the ore selected is a nickel-containing lateritic ore, at least one micro-organism selective to the leaching of the lateritic ore is provided as an aqueous solution thereof maintained at a pH ranging from about 1 to 3 including a nutrient for the micro-organism. The ore either as a slurry, a heap, or a charge in a vat is bioleached for a time sufficient to effect the dissolution of the nickel in the ore and form a solution thereof and a residue which is separated from the solution. The nickel is then selectively extracted from the solution using an ion exchange resin, and the nickel thereafter extracted from the resin using a mineral acid.