Review on comprehensive utilization of nickel laterite ore

Abstract

With the rise of the new energy battery industry, the demand and processing volume of nickel laterite ore—a crucial source of nickel for electrode materials—have steadily increased. This paper systematically reviews the traditional hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical processes used to extract valuable metals such as nickel, cobalt, magnesium, and iron from nickel laterite ore, and briefly discusses the resource utilization of acid leaching residues and ferronickel slag. Finally, it provides an outlook on future trends in nickel laterite ore processing technologies. In hydrometallurgical processes, the simultaneous leaching of impurity elements poses challenges for the recovery of nickel and cobalt, making the efficient and comprehensive recovery of valuable elements a key research focus, with iron extraction from acid leaching residues being a critical strategy. Pyrometallurgical processes face disadvantages in terms of environmental impact and energy consumption. Thus, the future development of pyrometallurgical processes should prioritize energy conservation and emission reduction. The use of renewable resources (such as biomass) and clean energy (such as hydrogen) shows promising potential. In the production of ferronickel or nickel matte, the use of additives can enhance the reduction process but significantly increases slag generation, necessitating effective strategies for resource recovery and utilization.