Publication Date:
2023-08-28
Description:
A complete processing method has been experimentally developed at laboratory scale for the future extraction of metlas from manganese nodules. The digestion of the nodules is performed by pressured sulfuric acid leaching at 200° C., nickel, copper, cobalt, and zinc being selectively dissolved in solution along with iron and manganese. The subsequent separation and recovery of the valuable metals is carried out with a combination of ion exchange and precipitation processes. Estimates for this methodology based on an annual throughput of 2 million tonnes of manganese nodules should lead to the production of about 24000 tonnes of nickel, 20000 tonnes of copper, and 3000 tonnes of cobalt and zinc. The authors conclude that, despite all uncertainty regarding the metal processing costs and the future metal prices, the exploitation of manganese nodules is economically viable.
Keywords:
Aluminium; Calcium; Cobalt; Copper; Deposit type; DEPTH, sediment/rock; Description; Dredge; DRG; Event label; Grab; GRAB; Identification; Iron; Location 10; Location 6; Magnesium; Manganese; Nickel; NOAA and MMS Marine Minerals Geochemical Database; NOAA-MMS; Pacific Ocean; Sample code/label; Sodium; VA-05/1; VA-05/1_06; VA-05/1_10; VA-08/1; VA-08/1-51GB; Valdivia (1961); Wet chemistry; Zinc
Type:
Dataset
Format:
text/tab-separated-values, 42 data points
