Reduction of saprolite nickel ore using methane-argon gas mixture with laboratory-scale simulated rotary kiln-electric furnace (RKEF) technology
Loading...
Access rights
openAccess
CC BY
CC BY
publishedVersion
URL
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä
This publication is imported from Aalto University research portal.
View publication in the Research portal (opens in new window)
View/Open full text file from the Research portal (opens in new window)
View publication in the Research portal (opens in new window)
View/Open full text file from the Research portal (opens in new window)
Unless otherwise stated, all rights belong to the author. You may download, display and print this publication for Your own personal use. Commercial use is prohibited.
Date
Major/Subject
Mcode
Degree programme
Language
en
Pages
13
Series
Minerals Engineering, Volume 234
Abstract
Saprolite nickel ore is typically processed using a pyrometallurgical route called Rotary Kiln-Electric Furnace (RKEF), which contributes to about 75 % of nickel production from laterite nickel ores. In RKEF technology, coal plays multiple roles as a reductant, fuel, and electricity source. Methane is a viable option as reductant and fuel for reducing CO2 emissions in the nickel industry, particularly as a stopgap measure until hydrogen production can be scaled up. However, there has been limited research on using methane as a reductant in nickel production. This study aims to produce ferronickel from saprolite nickel ore through a laboratory-scale RKEF using methane gas. Initially, FactSage 8.2 was used to investigate the thermodynamics of the process. A series of laboratory experiments were carried out in two stages to simulate the RKEF process. It involved varying the reduction temperature (500–900 °C), reduction time (15–120 min), and gas composition (25 and 75 vol% CH4/Ar) before each calcine was melted at 1550 °C for 2 h. The average composition of metals obtained was 71.3 % Fe and 14.3 % Ni. The results showed that methane can be used to produce ferronickel with a similar composition as commercial ferronickel.Description
Publisher Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s)
Other note
Citation
Nabilah, A J, Satritama, B, Hidayat, T, Taskinen, P, Santoso, I, Kurniadani, H & Zulhan, Z 2025, 'Reduction of saprolite nickel ore using methane-argon gas mixture with laboratory-scale simulated rotary kiln-electric furnace (RKEF) technology', Minerals Engineering, vol. 234, 109776. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2025.109776