Leaching Behavior of Preroasted Laterite Ore

This study investigates the leaching behavior of preroasted laterite ores and the effects of roasting on the leaching kinetics, particularly focusing on nickel recovery. The objective was to optimize extraction methods for nickel, which is crucial in modern technology. Methodologically, the laterite ore underwent roasting at temperatures of 280 °C and 610 °C for three hours, followed by leaching in sulfuric acid under atmospheric conditions. Experimental results demonstrate that roasting the ore at 610 °C significantly enhanced nickel recovery, achieving an impressive rate of up to 93 percent. Furthermore, it was determined that the leaching process for the preroasted ore was predominantly governed by diffusion through the ash layer formed during roasting. The activation energy recorded during the experiments was found to be 20.97 kJ/mol for the ore roasted at 280 °C, indicating substantial energy efficiency in the process. The implications of these findings highlight the potential for improved nickel extraction practices from laterite ores, which remains a challenge due to their complex mineral content. Future work will address potential health and environmental impacts related to the methods and materials used in this study.