High pressure acid leaching (HPAL) has been used for the extraction of basic metals, the latest developments being found for the nickel lateritic ores in Australia and South East Asia. This process involves autoclave leaching of minerals, solvent extraction and electrolytic recovery. The process conditions have become increasingly demanding, both in temperature and pressure. Sulfuric acid is the basic leaching medium and these operating conditions have pushed the operating envelope for some of the more traditional materials, resulting in the use of more exotic titanium, Titanium-Niobium 45, and tantalum alloys. This paper will review material selection.
Keywords: Sulfuric acid, lateritic ores, sulfide ores, duplex stainless steel,
titanium, refractory alloys, autoclaves, solvent extraction, pyrophoricity.