Fluidized Bed Selective Oxidation-Sulfation Roasting of Nickel Sulfide Concentrate: Part I. Oxidation Roasting

Two-stage oxidation-sulfation roasting of nickel sulfide concentrate in fluidized bed was investigated to generate water-soluble metal sulfates as an alternative process to smelting of the sulfide concentrate for the recovery of valuable metals. The first stage, i.e., oxidation roasting, was employed to preferentially oxidize the iron before performing sulfation roasting. A batch fluidized bed roaster was constructed for roasting tests. Roasting products from various roasting temperatures and different roasting times were analyzed by SEM/EDS, EPMA, XRD, and ICP-OES to investigate the oxidation roasting behavior of the nickel concentrate as a function of temperature and time.