IGO has been granted a patent for a method to recover NiSO4.6H2O crystals from a nickel-rich organic phase. The process involves using an aqueous strip solution with specific concentrations of H2SO4 and Ni2+ to extract nickel and precipitate the desired crystals, resulting in a nickel-lean organic phase. GlobalData’s report on IGO gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on IGO, Solvent extraction processes was a key innovation area identified from patents. IGO's grant share as of June 2024 was 60%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Method for recovering niso4.6h2o crystals from nickel phase
The granted patent US11993520B2 outlines a method for recovering nickel sulfate hexahydrate (NiSO4.6H2O) crystals from a nickel-rich organic phase. The process involves contacting this organic phase with an aqueous strip solution containing sulfuric acid (H2SO4) at a concentration sufficient to extract nickel and precipitate NiSO4.6H2O crystals. The method also includes separating the resulting nickel-lean organic phase from the NiSO4.6H2O crystals. The aqueous strip solution can have a H2SO4 concentration ranging from 10 to 300 g/L, and the nickel-rich organic phase may contain coordination complexes of nickel with various organic extractants, such as organophosphorous acids and branched carboxylic acids.
Additionally, the patent describes a comprehensive method for producing nickel sulfate, which begins with sourcing nickel sulfide concentrate and involves several steps, including repulping, fine grinding, and low-temperature pressure oxidation (LTPOX) to create a pregnant leach solution (PLS). The process further includes neutralization steps, counter-current decantation, and selective extraction of cobalt before nickel extraction from the cobalt-lean raffinate. The final step involves direct crystallization of the nickel-rich organic phase, leading to the formation of NiSO4.6H2O crystals with specified purity levels, including limits on impurities such as iron, manganese, copper, cobalt, and zinc. The resulting nickel sulfate is characterized by a nickel content between 21% and 24%.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
