Enhanced hydrochloric acid leaching of nickel

Dissolution rates of nickel in hydrochloric acid with and without the presence of thiourea have been studied by means of rotating disc methods with solution analysis. In the absence of thiourea an apparent activation energy value of 61.1 ± 12.1 kJ. mol−1 was determined. Such a high value is inconsistent with a diffusion controlled process and this was supported by the lack of dependency of the dissolution rate on rotational speed. A reaction controlled process is indicated. In 8.4 mol. dm−3 hydrochloric acid the thiourea concentration range producing optimum dissolution rates was 10−3 to 10−2 mol. dm−3. At 70° C the rate of leaching was enhanced by some 105 %. Tests using radiochemical labelling of the sulphur and of the carbon separately in the thiourea molecule confirmed previous proposals, for cobalt dissolution, that hydrogen sulphide is produced as a by-product of the cathodic depolarisation reaction involving the thiourea and is adsorbed on the metal surface in the molecular state, forming activated anodic sites which enhance anodic dissolution. At the 10−1 mol. dm−3 thiourea concentration level stimulation of the nickel dissolution process gave way to its partial inhibition with a maximum diminution at 30°C of ∼50 %.