Green Hydrometallurgy Process Using Organic Solutions (Citric and Glutamate) for Ferronickel’s by Products: Preliminary

The chapter delves into the innovative use of organic solutions, namely citric acid and monosodium glutamate, in a hydrometallurgy process to extract nickel from laterite ores. It begins by examining the significance of selective reduction in the direct reduction roasting process, where controlling the reduction of iron is crucial for achieving a high nickel content. The study reveals that citric acid facilitates a stable and gradual dissolution of iron, achieving a recovery rate of up to 77.2% at 90°C for 120 minutes. In contrast, monosodium glutamate, when combined with hydrogen peroxide, accelerates the leaching reaction, resulting in an 11.5% recovery rate under the same conditions. The chapter also explores the potential applications of iron-rich by-products, which can be utilized as precursors for manufacturing iron nanoparticles with diverse applications in food technology, biomedicine, energy, and fuel production. Furthermore, the chapter discusses the formation of various phases, such as magnesioferrite, olivine, and wuestite, during the leaching process, providing insights into the chemical transformations that occur. The use of organic reagents in hydrometallurgy offers a greener alternative to traditional methods, reducing the consumption of inorganic acids and minimizing environmental impact. The chapter concludes with a detailed analysis of the surface morphology and elemental distribution of the leached samples, highlighting the effectiveness of the organic reagents in the extraction process.