Selective solubilization of gangue from nickel sulfides using organic acid solutions

Abstract

A mixture includes a nickel-containing ore and/or concentrate thereof and an extraction composition including an aqueous solution including a first organic acid, which includes an acid selected from the group consisting of citric acid or malic acid, or combinations thereof; an optional additional organic acid; and an optional inorganic acid. A concentration ratio of the first organic acid to the additional organic acid is in a range from 1:0 to 1:≤1. The extraction composition is configured to selectively solubilize one or more components including a magnesium component from the nickel-containing ore and/or concentrate thereof. A method for extracting a metal from nickel-containing ore and/or a concentrate thereof includes selectively solubilizing a magnesium component that includes one or more magnesium minerals, a magnesium salt, or any combination thereof from a nickel-containing ore, and/or concentrate thereof into an extraction composition.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.