Process for separating nickel, cobalt and copper

摘要

This invention relates to a process for separating nickel, cobalt and copper wherein a molten mixture containing either or both of nickel and cobalt and copper as an alloy and a matte or either of them is mixed in the presence of a matte, metallic iron and carbon to form a high carbon ferrous alloy and a matte in two separate phases. Both nickel and cobalt or either of them is extracted predominantly in the high carbon ferrous alloy and copper is extracted predominantly in the matte.