Multipurpose Utilization Trend of Nickel Mineral Resources under the Goal of Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality

Abstract

The challenge of climate change is becoming more and more serious, and the "warm war" has been launched around the world. After China's "dual carbon" target was put forward, various sectors have studied and developed their own emission reduction plans. As an important basic industry of national economy, metal mineral industry faces both challenges and opportunities in green and low-carbon transformation. This paper focuses on nickel, one of the most important metals in power battery, and its comprehensive application prospect under the dual drive of clean energy and high nickelization of power battery. At present, nickel mainly used in stainless steel production will gradually decrease in the green and low-carbon transition, and the consumption of battery grade nickel sulfate will increase rapidly. Laterite type nickel ore has become the main source of nickel as nickel sulfide ore resources become scarce. At present, laterite nickel ore is mainly produced by KREF and other pyrosmelting processes to produce nickel-iron and stainless steel. With the increasing demand for battery grade nickel sulfate, high pressure acid leaching nickel wet smelting of intermediate products and converting nickel-iron to high matte nickel to produce nickel sulfate may become the development trend of comprehensive utilization of laterite nickel ore in the future.

Keywords

• carbon neutrality
• clean energy
• nickel mineral resource
• high pressure acid leaching
• high ni matte
• multipurpose utilization