scholarly journals Nickel Laterites—Mineralogical Monitoring for Grade Definition and Process Optimization

Minerals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1178
Author(s):  
Uwe König

Nickel laterite ore is used to produce nickel metal, predominantly to manufacture stainless steel as well as nickel sulfate, a key ingredient in the batteries that drive electric vehicles. Nickel laterite production is on the rise and surpassing conventional sulfide deposits. The efficiency of mining and processing nickel laterites is defined by their mineralogical composition. Typical profiles of nickel laterites are divided into a saprolite and a laterite horizon. Nickel is mainly concentrated and hosted in a variety of secondary oxides, hydrous Mg silicates and clay minerals like smectite or lizardite in the saprolite horizon, whereas the laterite horizon can host cobalt that could be extracted as a side product. For this case study, 40 samples from both saprolite and laterite horizons were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) in combination with statistical methods such as cluster analysis. Besides the identification of the different mineral phases, the quantitative composition of the samples was also determined with the Rietveld method. Data clustering of the samples was tested and allows a fast and easy separation of the different lithologies and ore grades. Mineralogy also plays a key role during further processing of nickel laterites to nickel metal. XRD was used to monitor the mineralogy of calcine, matte and slag. The value of mineralogical monitoring for grade definition, ore sorting, and processing is explained in the paper.

Author(s):  
Maria Ricciardi ◽  
Concetta Pironti ◽  
Oriana Motta ◽  
Rosa Fiorillo ◽  
Federica Camin ◽  
...  

AbstractIn this paper, we analysed the efflorescences present in the frescos of a monumental complex named S. Pietro a Corte situated in the historic centre of Salerno (Campania, Italy). The groundwater of the historic centre is fed by two important streams (the Rafastia and the Fusandola) that can be the sources of water penetration. The aims of this work are to (i) identify the stream that reaches the ancient frigidarium of S. Pietro a Corte and (ii) characterize the efflorescences on damaged frescos in terms of chemical nature and sources. In order to accomplish the first aim, the water of the Rafastia river (7 samples) and the water of the Fusandola river (7 samples) were analysed and compared with the water of a well of the Church (7 samples). The ionic chromatography measurements on the water samples allowed us to identify the Rafastia as the river that feeds the ancient frigidarium of S. Pietro a Corte. To investigate the nature and the origin of the efflorescences (our second aim), anionic chromatography analyses, X-ray diffraction measurements, and the isotopic determination of nitrogen were performed on the efflorescences (9 samples) and the salts recovered from the well (6 samples). Results of these analyses show that efflorescences are mainly made of potassium nitrate with a δ15N value of + 9.3 ± 0.2‰. Consequently, a plausible explanation for their formation could be the permeation of sewage water on the walls of the monumental complex.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Mariana M. V. M. Souza ◽  
Alex Maza ◽  
Pablo V. Tuza

In the present work, LaNi0.5Ti0.45Co0.05O3, LaNi0.45Co0.05Ti0.5O3, and LaNi0.5Ti0.5O3 perovskites were synthesized by the modified Pechini method. These materials were characterized using X-ray fluorescence, scanning electron microscopy, and powder X-ray diffraction coupled to the Rietveld method. The crystal structure of these materials is orthorhombic, with space group Pbnm (No 62). The unit-cell parameters are a = 5.535(5) Å, b = 5.527(3) Å, c = 7.819(7) Å, V = 239.2(3) Å3, for the LaNi0.5Ti0.45Co0.05O3, a = 5.538(6) Å, b = 5.528(4) Å, c = 7.825(10) Å, V = 239.5(4) Å3, for the LaNi0.45Co0.05Ti0.5O3, and a = 5.540(2) Å, b = 5.5334(15) Å, c = 7.834(3) Å, V = 240.2(1) Å3, for the LaNi0.5Ti0.5O3.


2013 ◽  
Vol 539 ◽  
pp. 19-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong Qi Wei ◽  
Wu Yao

The quantitative characterization of hydration of cement pastes has always been one of focuses of researchers’ attention. Rietveld phase analysis (RPA), a combination of quantitative X-ray diffraction (QXRD) and the Rietveld method, supplies a tool of an enormous potential for that. Although a few of related researches were conducted by RPA, the reported attention was not paid to the neat cement paste with a low w/c ratio. Therefore, this work aimed at the quantitative study on hydration of such a cement paste chiefly by this method, meanwhile, cooperated with the hyphenated technique of thermogravimetry with differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC), as a spot check. Results indicated that RPA was a reliable method in quantitatively characterizing hydration of cement pastes, and gave a clear decription of evolution of all main crystal phases in cement pastes; and that the evolution of monosulphate(Afm_12) was also able to be tracked quantitatively. This will help to understand better the hydration mechanism of cement pastes, as well as to investigate quantitatively effects of mineral and chemical admixtures on hydration of composite cementitious systems.


Author(s):  
F. Mostefa ◽  
Nasr Eddine Bouhamou ◽  
H.A. Mesbah ◽  
Salima Aggoun ◽  
D. Mekhatria

This work aims to study the feasibility of making a geopolymer cement based on dredged sediments, from the Fergoug dam (Algeria) and to evaluate their construction potential particularly interesting in the field of special cementitious materials. These sediments due to their mineralogical composition as aluminosilicates; are materials that can be used after heat treatment. Sedimentary clays were characterized before and after calcination by X-ray diffraction, ATG / ATD, spectroscopy (FTIR) and XRF analysis. The calcination was carried out on the raw material sieved at 80 μm for a temperature of 750 ° C, for 3.4 and 5 hours. The reactivity of the calcined products was measured using isothermal calorimetric analysis (DSC) on pastes prepared by mixing an alkaline solution of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) 8 M in an amount allowing to have a Na / Al ratio close to 1 (1: 1). Also, cubic mortar samples were prepared with a ratio L / S: 0.8, sealed and cured for 24 hours at 60 ° C and then at room temperature until the day they were submited to mechanical testing. to check the extent of geopolymerization. The results obtained allowed to optimize the calcination time of 5 hours for a better reactivity of these sediments, and a concentration of 8M of sodium hydroxide and more suitable to have the best mechanical performances.


Nanomaterials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1065
Author(s):  
Joseph-Hang Leung ◽  
Hong-Thai Nguyen ◽  
Shih-Wei Feng ◽  
Sofya B. Artemkina ◽  
Vladimir E. Fedorov ◽  
...  

P-type and N-type photoelectrochemical (PEC) biosensors were established in the laboratory to discuss the correlation between characteristic substances and photoactive material properties through the photogenerated charge carrier transport mechanism. Four types of human esophageal cancer cells (ECCs) were analyzed without requiring additional bias voltage. Photoelectrical characteristics were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–vis reflectance spectroscopy, and photocurrent response analyses. Results showed that smaller photocurrent was measured in cases with advanced cancer stages. Glutathione (L-glutathione reduced, GSH) and Glutathione disulfide (GSSG) in cancer cells carry out redox reactions during carrier separation, which changes the photocurrent. The sensor can identify ECC stages with a certain level of photoelectrochemical response. The detection error can be optimized by adjusting the number of cells, and the detection time of about 5 min allowed repeated measurement.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasin Erdoğan

Handere clay deposits were discovered at Adana in Turkey. These clay units primarily consist of uncoloured claystone, pebbly sandstone, sandstone, siltstone, and mudstone marl and include gypsum lenses and clay levels of various thicknesses in places. The physicochemical properties of these clays have been investigated by different techniques including Scanning Electron and Elemental Analysis (SEM and EDS), mineralogical analyses, chemical and physical analyses, X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), and Atterberg (Consistency) Limits Test. The mineralogical composition deduced from XRD is wide (smectite + palygorskite + illite ± feldspar ± chlorite ± quartz ± calcite ± serpentine) due to the high smectite contents (≈85%). SEM studies reveal that smectite minerals are composed of irregular platy leaves and show honeycomb pattern in the form of wavy leaves in places. The leaves presenting an array with surface edge contact are usually concentrated in the dissolution voids and fractures of volcanic glass. Organic matter content and loss on ignition analysis of raw materials are good for all the studied samples. In summary, Handere clays can be used as building materials in bricks, roof tiles, and cement and as a binder.


Nafta-Gaz ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 77 (5) ◽  
pp. 293-298
Author(s):  
Urszula Zagórska ◽  
◽  
Sylwia Kowalska ◽  

The analysis of mineralogical composition by quantitative X-ray diffraction (QXRD) is one of the standard research methods used in hydrocarbon exploration. In order to improve it and to obtain better results, the methodology of quantitative analysis used at Well Logging Department is being periodically (more or less) modified. After the introduction of the improvements, comparative analyses were performed on archival samples. Reflections from an unidentified phase which did not occur in the tested Rotliegend sandstone samples were noticed on X-ray diffractograms of archival samples. Reflections of a mineral called simonkolleite were identified in the X-ray diffraction database. Chemically it is a hydrated zinc chloride of the formula: Zn5Cl2(OH)8 × H2O. Analysis of the composition of samples in which simonkolleite crystallised, indicated that the mineral is being formed in the result of the slow reaction of zinc oxide with halite (NaCl) and water vapour. An attempt was made to determine the influence of the presence of this mineral on the results of the quantitative analysis of mineralogical composition. The above methodology was applied on a group of ten samples. The results of the quantitative analysis conducted for archival samples stored with added zincite standard containing simonkolleite and for new, freshly grinded (without artifact) samples were compared. The comparison of the obtained results showed a slight influence of this mineral on the quantitative composition of the remaining components. The difference between the results usually did not exceed the method error. At the same time a significant difference in the calculated content of the internal standard was noted – on average 1% less in archival than in new samples. This shows that the reaction occurring in the archival samples will affect the evaluation of the quality of the obtained quantitative analysis, at the same time excluding the possibility of determining the rock’s amorphous substance content with the internal standard method.


2018 ◽  
Vol 280 ◽  
pp. 58-64
Author(s):  
Tinesha Selvaraj ◽  
Johar Banjuraizah ◽  
S.F. Khor ◽  
M.N. Mohd Zainol

A facile strategy was proposed to incorporate the dopant Fe into 8YSZ-based material, which can be potentially applied as solid electrode materials for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC). In this study, 8YSZ powder was investigated in terms of densification, conductivity and thecrystal structure as a solid electrolytes. Therefore, varying mol% of Fe included 1, 2, and 3 were prepared for investigation. The crystalline structure of the pristine and Fe doped samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and the phase contents were evaluated by using the Rietveld method. Rietveld quantitative phase analysis demonstrates that the monoclinic-ZrO2phase increases (12.8 wt% to 39.7 wt%) as the concentration of Fe increases, while the amount of tetragonal-ZrO2phase drop (40.4 wt% to 11.9 wt%) dramatically. Sintering activity was applied to improve incorporation of the 8YSZ powder and the dopant Fe where the relative density increases from 77% to 92%. Sample YSZ-2Fe has been fitted with CPE equivalent circuit and achieved 6.251 x 10-6S/cm at 300 °C in air. However, it was found that conductivity levels decreased as the mol% of Fe increased. In short, sample YSZ-2Fe ceramic demonstrated good results in terms of densification (92.09%), cubic ZrO2phase (22 wt%) and conductivity 6.251 x 10-6S/cm.


2018 ◽  
Vol 51 (6) ◽  
pp. 1571-1585 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graeme Hansford

A conceptual design for a handheld X-ray diffraction (HHXRD) instrument is proposed. Central to the design is the application of energy-dispersive XRD (EDXRD) in a back-reflection geometry. This technique brings unique advantages which enable a handheld instrument format, most notably, insensitivity to sample morphology and to the precise sample position relative to the instrument. For fine-grained samples, including many geological specimens and the majority of common alloys, these characteristics negate sample preparation requirements. A prototype HHXRD device has been developed by minor modification of a handheld X-ray fluorescence instrument, and the performance of the prototype has been tested with samples relevant to mining/quarrying and with an extensive range of metal samples. It is shown, for example, that the mineralogical composition of iron-ore samples can be approximately quantified. In metals analysis, identification and quantification of the major phases have been demonstrated, along with extraction of lattice parameters. Texture analysis is also possible and a simple example for a phosphor bronze sample is presented. Instrument formats other than handheld are possible and online process control in metals production is a promising area. The prototype instrument requires extended measurement times but it is argued that a purpose-designed instrument can achieve data-acquisition times below one minute. HHXRD based on back-reflection EDXRD is limited by the low resolution of diffraction peaks and interference by overlapping fluorescence peaks and, for these reasons, cannot serve as a general-purpose XRD tool. However, the advantages ofin situ, nondestructive and rapid measurement, tolerance of irregular surfaces, and no sample preparation requirement in many cases are potentially transformative. For targeted applications in which the analysis meets commercially relevant performance criteria, HHXRD could become the method of choice through sheer speed and convenience.


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