Thanks for the links and the historical HRR info, S_W. Very interesting, indeed. Thumbs up to you.
I did more reading thereafter.
Never thought a straight-forward scientific method in the DNi process would have its share of twists and turns.
It's not like I was reading about Tartaria or the global mudfloods. Even so, this many more dots I found out (with highlights done by me):
1. The inventor was an American named William F. Drinkard Jr. (died 7 December 2020).
2. He patented the process on 1 May 2008 (reference US20100064854A1). The patent coverage included Australia, and was assigned to Drinkard Metalox Inc.
3. The process works only with nitric acid. Does not work with hydrochloric acid or sulphuric acid.
4. The process works for lateritic ores, saprolites, limonites, oxides, sulphides,
other metal bearing materials, and metallurgical wastes.
5. The process seems to be very versatile and requires exact conditions. For example:
- Precipitation of iron is usually accomplished at a pH of 2 to 3;
- Precipitation of alumina is usually accomplished at a pH of 4-5;
- Precipitation of nickel is usually accomplished at a pH of 6-7;
- Precipitation of manganese is usually accomplished at a pH of 8-9;
- Precipitation of MgO is usually accomplished at a pH of 10-11; and
- Precipitation of Ca is usually accomplished at a pH of 12-13.
6. Alternatively, the process may be operated to produce nitrates and other value added chemicals, such as ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3), calcium nitrate, magnesium nitrate, sodium and potassium nitrates, etc., which are extensively used in fertilizers and explosives.
7. William Drinkard's summary of achievement as mentioned in the patent:
- From the foregoing, it is readily apparent that I have invented an improved method for processing of nickel laterite ores to recover the valuable minerals contained therein, including nickel, cobalt, and magnesium, as well as recovering other metal values from nickel-laterite ores, oxide and sulfide ores, metallurgical wastes, and other metal-bearing materials, faster and more economically than heretofore has been possible.
- It is to be understood that the foregoing description and specific embodiments are merely illustrative of the best mode of the invention and the principles thereof and that various modifications and additions may be made to the apparatus by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention, which is therefore understood to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.
7. So how is this relevant to ARL? Why would ARL posters want to know the complicated chemistry involved in a process not even used by ARL?
- Answer: Is scandium a metal?
If, as suggested, that Michael Holmes has a plan for Sconi, then so does Andrew Penkethman for Goongarie.
Looking forward to exciting news flow. Won't be long.
(20min delay)