Efficient Utilization of Limonite Nickel Laterite to Prepare Ferronickel by the Selective Reduction Smelting Process

Ferronickel products obtained from the traditional process used to treat limonite nickel laterite usually assay very low-grade Ni, only 3–5% Ni due high Fe/Ni ratio of laterite. This paper describes an investigation conducted upgrade laterites for preparation ferronickel by using selective reduction smelting technology. By means thermodynamic calculations and experiments, separation mechanism behavior P S removal in process, as well influence factors, have been systematically identified. The best production index is under optimized conditions follows: pre-reduced lumps at 1525 °C 45 min with a basicity 0.60, MgO/SiO2 0.30, iron metallization rate 94.30% 10.93%, respectively. resulting features grade 12.55% 84.61% recovery 85.65% 10.87%, In addition, content contained 0.11% 0.0035%, fine material subsequent stainless steel its low impurities.