Solubility of nickel and cobalt in alumina saturated iron silicate slags

Abstract

Studies were conducted to investigate into the solubility of nickel and cobalt in equilibrium with alumina saturated slags iron silicate slags. Activity of the metal oxide in the slag was determined by equilibrating the slag with Au-Ni or Au-Co alloy at a particular temperature and oxygen potential and Fe/Si02 1.31. Experiments for nickel were done at 1523K, 1573Kand 1623K at oxygen partial pressures ranging from 10-lO to 10-8 atmospheres. Studies for cobalt were conducted at 1573K under similar oxygen potentials. Atomic absorption spectroscopic analysis of the alloy and slags showed that nickel and cobalt solubility in slags had a relationship of the form: M (Ni/Co) in slag (%)= A2 aM 1) From the results, activity coefficient of the metal oxide and the distribution coefficient were determined. The results obtained have been compared with other data available in the literature. Practical implications of the results have also been discussed.