Experimental Study on Direct Reduction of Laterite Nickel Ore Leaching Residue Pellets

F. Yang, CH. Pi, ZH. Q. Guo, K. Xu, and J.Y. He

DOI: https://doi.org/10.64486/m.66.1.3
Online publication date: May 15, 2026

Abstract: Pellets were formed by adding carbon to laterite nickel ore leaching residue in the laboratory and then reduction roasting was carried out. The effects of reduction conditions such as the ratio of reducing agents, reduction temperature, and reduction time on the products of direct reduction iron (total iron content and iron recovery rate) were studied. The research results show that under the conditions of a reducing agent (coal powder) ratio of 16 %, a reduction temperature of 1200 ℃, and a reduction time of 40 minutes, the total iron content of directly reduced iron is 93.10 %, and the iron recovery rate is 96 %.

Keywords: leaching residue of laterite nickel ore pellets; direct reduction; reducing agent ratio; reduction temperature; reduction time

This article is published online first and will appear in Metalurgija, Vol. 66, Issue 1 (2027).