3298
Nickel Recovery from Nickel Sulphide Tailings
Using Activated Carbon in Acidic Medium
Emmanuel Atta Mends, Angela Manka Tita, Shokrullah Hussain, John Samuel Thella, Pengbo Chu
Department of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno
ABSTRACT: The present study presents a novel, environmentally friendly suitable approach to recovering
nickel from nickel sulfide tailings with activated carbon (AC) and sulfuric acid (H2SO4). The response surface
methodology (RSM) and central composite design (CCD) optimization approaches are applied to determine
the best possible solution for maximizing the recovery of nickel. The leaching results indicates that, under
the optimal conditions (1 M H2SO4, AC dosage of 30 g/L, temperature of 80 °C, and solid-liquid ratio of
50 g/L), 97.95% Ni was recovered into the leach solution within 24 hours. The kinetics of metal dissolution
was studied, and the outcomes indicated that the leaching of nickel in the AC-H2SO4 system was diffusion
controlled through the solid product layer with an apparent activation energy of 26.19 kJ/mol. The findings
of this study, taking into consideration the recyclability of activated carbon, provides a unique approach that
can mitigate environmental concerns related to the hydrometallurgical processing of nickel sulfide tailings for
valuable metal recovery.
Keywords: leaching, response surface methodology, tailings, nickel, activated carbon
INTRODUCTION
Electric vehicles, renewable solar panels, and emerging
clean energy technologies rely critically on metals including
nickel (Mends and Chu 2023 Lou, Tang, Liu, and Zhang
2023). In consequence, to power the sustainable energy
transition, a reliable supply of these minerals is central,
intensifying their demand. Conversely, global reserves of
such minerals cannot presently meet the estimated demand
of these metals as to phase out fossil fuels from electric
vehicles only (Karppinen, Seisko, and Lundström 2024
Khalaj, Karimi, and Rabbani 2021). Herein, alternative raw
resources such aqueous reserves, low-grade ores, tailings,
slags, and electronic wastes must be an essential component
of their extraction processes. These secondary raw materials
frequently contain precious metals including nickel.
Traditionally, nickel sulfide ore is extracted using
a pyrometallurgical process that involves finely grind-
ing the ore after mining and froth flotation to concen-
trate the nickel sulfide minerals into a nickel concentrate
(Crundwell, Moats, and Ramachandran 2011 Henriques
Leal Andrade 2018 Hosseini, Raygan, Rezaei, and Jafari
2017 Juanqin et al. 2010 Lou, Tang, Liu, and Zhang 2023
Mbaya, Ramakokovhu, and Thubakgale 2013 Meshram
and Pandey 2018). Subsequently, the concentrate under-
goes additional processing through smelting and reduction,
yielding a nickel-bearing matte that also includes copper,
cobalt, and chromium. Following the pyrometallurgical
Nickel Recovery from Nickel Sulphide Tailings
Using Activated Carbon in Acidic Medium
Emmanuel Atta Mends, Angela Manka Tita, Shokrullah Hussain, John Samuel Thella, Pengbo Chu
Department of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno
ABSTRACT: The present study presents a novel, environmentally friendly suitable approach to recovering
nickel from nickel sulfide tailings with activated carbon (AC) and sulfuric acid (H2SO4). The response surface
methodology (RSM) and central composite design (CCD) optimization approaches are applied to determine
the best possible solution for maximizing the recovery of nickel. The leaching results indicates that, under
the optimal conditions (1 M H2SO4, AC dosage of 30 g/L, temperature of 80 °C, and solid-liquid ratio of
50 g/L), 97.95% Ni was recovered into the leach solution within 24 hours. The kinetics of metal dissolution
was studied, and the outcomes indicated that the leaching of nickel in the AC-H2SO4 system was diffusion
controlled through the solid product layer with an apparent activation energy of 26.19 kJ/mol. The findings
of this study, taking into consideration the recyclability of activated carbon, provides a unique approach that
can mitigate environmental concerns related to the hydrometallurgical processing of nickel sulfide tailings for
valuable metal recovery.
Keywords: leaching, response surface methodology, tailings, nickel, activated carbon
INTRODUCTION
Electric vehicles, renewable solar panels, and emerging
clean energy technologies rely critically on metals including
nickel (Mends and Chu 2023 Lou, Tang, Liu, and Zhang
2023). In consequence, to power the sustainable energy
transition, a reliable supply of these minerals is central,
intensifying their demand. Conversely, global reserves of
such minerals cannot presently meet the estimated demand
of these metals as to phase out fossil fuels from electric
vehicles only (Karppinen, Seisko, and Lundström 2024
Khalaj, Karimi, and Rabbani 2021). Herein, alternative raw
resources such aqueous reserves, low-grade ores, tailings,
slags, and electronic wastes must be an essential component
of their extraction processes. These secondary raw materials
frequently contain precious metals including nickel.
Traditionally, nickel sulfide ore is extracted using
a pyrometallurgical process that involves finely grind-
ing the ore after mining and froth flotation to concen-
trate the nickel sulfide minerals into a nickel concentrate
(Crundwell, Moats, and Ramachandran 2011 Henriques
Leal Andrade 2018 Hosseini, Raygan, Rezaei, and Jafari
2017 Juanqin et al. 2010 Lou, Tang, Liu, and Zhang 2023
Mbaya, Ramakokovhu, and Thubakgale 2013 Meshram
and Pandey 2018). Subsequently, the concentrate under-
goes additional processing through smelting and reduction,
yielding a nickel-bearing matte that also includes copper,
cobalt, and chromium. Following the pyrometallurgical