Reducibility of nickeliferous limonitic laterite ore from Central Anatolia

Abstract

Limonitic nickel laterite from Sivrihisar reserve in Turkey was reduced at 700-1100 degrees C by the addition of 5.74, 8.61 and 11.48 wt-% coal under an argon atmosphere. The run-of-mine ore and the reduced samples were studied using X-ray diffraction. The metallisation of Fe was found to be limited up to 900 degrees C, but increased rapidly at higher temperatures. The metallisation of Ni and Co increased when the temperature was increased from 700 to 800 degrees C, almost levelled off up to 900 degrees C and then increased up to 1100 degrees C. The results also showed that increased coal additions did not affect Fe metallisation up to 900 degrees C. At 1000 degrees C the metallisation of Fe became slightly better, but its effect was more pronounced at 1100 degrees C. The increased coal addition affected the nickel reduction equally at all temperatures, while it had no effect on the metallisation of Co.