Unlocking critical metals from Australian sediments and ores

从澳大利亚沉积物和矿石中释放关键金属

• 批准号: DE170100417
• 负责人: Dr Andrew Frierdich
• 金额: $ 25.08万
• 依托单位: Monash University
• 依托单位国家: 澳大利亚
• 项目类别: Discovery Early Career Researcher Award
• 财政年份: 2017
• 资助国家: 澳大利亚
• 起止时间: 2017-01-01 至 2022-06-01
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://dataportal.arc.gov.au/RGS/Web/Grants/DE170100417
• 关键词: Unlocking; critical; metals; Australian; sediments

This project aims to explore the recrystallization of nickel-bearing minerals in laterites to extract nickel from stable mineral phases under ambient conditions. Highly-weathered Australian soils contain economic quantities of nickel but technologies to extract this metal are inefficient, leaving this vital resource underdeveloped. This project will use stable isotope tracers and three-dimensional atomic-scale tomography to resolve the recrystallization mechanisms, and determine their role in natural environments and their applicability to natural ores. Expected outcomes include strategies to process nickel-rich laterites, of high interest to industry and society in Australia and abroad.This project will exemplify the need to promote novel solutions to reduce the financial and environmental cost of processing natural resources.

本项目旨在探索红土中含镍矿物的重结晶，以在环境条件下从稳定矿物相中提取镍。澳大利亚高度风化的土壤含有经济数量的镍，但提取这种金属的技术效率低下，导致这种重要资源不发达。该项目将使用稳定同位素示踪剂和三维原子尺度层析成像来解决重结晶机制，并确定其在自然环境中的作用及其对天然矿石的适用性。预期成果包括处理富镍红土的战略，这对澳大利亚和国外的工业和社会都有很高的兴趣。该项目将满足促进新的解决方案的需要，以减少处理自然资源的财务和环境成本。