oa Preliminary Characterization of Thermal Upgrading of Nickel from Saprolite via Selective Reduction

Abstract. The mineralogical properties and distribution of information established in saprolite from Indonesia were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), scanning electron microscopy energy dispersion spectroscopy (SEM–EDS), and differential thermal analysis (DTA) measurements. The findings suggest that laterite ore has a complex inner core. The percentages of Ni, Fe, Mg, Al, and Si in saprolite are given in 1.82, 30.47, 10-20, 4.86, and 8.1 weight percent. Saprolite has 53.1 percent iron oxide/oxyhydroxide, 38.3 percent lizardite and 8.7 percent silicate. According to DTA, saprolite undergoes a phase shift from goethite to hematite at low temperatures (200-300ºC). This is a suitable phase to optimize nickel diffusion in iron. Furthermore, the thermal upgrading approach was utilized for this saprolite.