Bench scale experimentation and a small pilot plant have shown that the internationally patented Intec Process for the production of base metals can be applied to nickel/cobalt concentrates (the “Intec Nickel Process”). The test work to date has been very promising, and the Intec Nickel Process is now ready for testing on a demonstration scale.

There are several nickel chloride processes already in commercial operation, and for each of these, the feed nickel sulphides concentrate is smelted before leaching. Smelting is performed mainly to remove magnesium and iron from the concentrate and to activate the nickel sulfides for leaching. The Intec Nickel Process has some advantages with respect to leaching, so that activation of the mineral is not necessary, and the soluble fraction of contained magnesium can be removed from the concentrate by an acid pre-leach.

The major differences between the Intec Nickel Process and established nickel chloride processes are (1) the Intec electrolyte contains bromide as well as chloride, and (2) an acid pre-leach may be substituted for the initial roasting step.

Description of the Intec Nickel Process

Click here for a more detailed description of the Intec Nickel Process

Intec Nickel Process Alta 2003 Paper.pdf (Acrobat PDF Document, 334Kb)

Intec Nickel Process Alta 2003 Presentation (Adobe PDF Document 160Kb)

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More Information

For more information, contact Intec’s Technical Director:

John Moyes
Intec Ltd
Phone: +612-9351-6741
Fax: +612-9351-7180
Email: john@www.intec.com.au