GB769099A - Improvements relating to the reduction of nickel oxide and the production of nickel carbonyl - Google Patents

Abstract

Nickel which has been formed by treating nickel oxide particles mixed with sand or other particles incapable of reacting with or adhering to the nickel or oxide <PICT:0769099/III/1> particles in the form of one or more fluidized beds with a gas mixture containing hydrogen (see Group II) is converted into nickel carbonyl by reaction with carbon monoxide in the presence of a sulphur catalyst in more than one volatilizer, the mixture of nickel particles and sand entering the first volatilizer and the sand being separated before the last volatilizer. In the form shown, a mixture of nickel particles and sand from pipe 12 passes into a vessel 13 through which hydrogen sulphide flows in countercurrent, and then into volatilizer 14 supplied with carbon monoxide by pipe 15. Particles from the top of the bed in volatilizer 14 overflow into a vessel 18 supplied with carbon monoxide under pressure by pipe 19, the sand falling through a chamber 20 into a hopper 21, and the partially extracted nickel particles carried into a cyclone 23 and then to at least one further volatilizer 24. Alternatively, hydrogen sulphide may be mixed with the carbon monoxide flowing to the first volatilizer. Reference has been directed by the Comptroller to Specification 573,593 [Group II].