Queensland Pacific Metals Limited (QPM) has announced the production of the first nickel sulfate at Sulfate Refinery pilot plant activities being undertaken at SGS Canada.
The TECH Project‘s primary battery metal products will be nickel and cobalt sulfate. QPM will refine the nickel and cobalt recovered by the DNi ProcessTM into battery-grade sulfate as part of the commercial flowsheet to be used at the TECH Project. This section of the flowsheet is mostly standard, with minor tweaks to fit the TECH Project and optimise for the projected ore grade.
QPM has been conducting pilot-scale testing at SGS Canada’s facilities since May 2023. The following subprocesses were put to the test:
- Aluminium precipitation;
- Impurity solvent extraction (ISX);
- Cobalt solvent extraction (CSX) and nickel solvent extraction (NSX);
- Transformation solvent extraction and Purification solvent extraction; and
- Nickel sulfate crystallisation.
According to QPM, the piloting has been successful in producing nickel sulfate that matches the standards needed by QPM’s partners, General Motors, LG Energy Solutions, and POSCO. Over 10kg of on-spec nickel sulfate has been produced thus far.
The piloting also effectively confirmed this component of the commercial flowsheet, which will be critical in securing the backing of potential TECH Project investors.
“Nickel sulfate is the main product being produced at the TECH Project. Production of on-spec material through our pilot testwork is a significant achievement and will greatly assist in our financing endeavours,” QPM Managing Director and CEO Dr Stephen Grocott said.
QPM also intends to produce on-spec cobalt sulfate in the next phase of pilot testwork.
