Direct reduction of nickel laterite limonitic ore using a coal-dolomite mixture bed and Na₂SO₄ as a selective agent

Nickel finds a wide industrial application. It is obtained through extraction from nickel-containing ores. The metal extraction using a lateritic nickel ore becomes an important alternative because of nickel sulphide ore reserves decrease. This study aims to determine the coal to dolomite mass ratio that can produce ferronickel products of high nickel recovery, content, and selectivity. The extraction process studied refers to a direct reduction using a coal/dolomite bed and Na₂SO₄ as a selective agent. It takes place in a SiC crucible within 6 h at a temperature of 1300⁰C. The best coal to dolomite mass ratio refers to 1:2.09. It provides the highest Ni content of 12.04%, the highest selectivity factor of 8.191 and nickel recovery of 99.1%.