Exploration company TMC has successfully produced nickel sulphate exclusively from seafloor polymetallic nodules. This, the Nasdaq company says, has never been accomplished before.
Conducted in collaboration with SGS Canada at its Lakefield, Ontario facility, the process involved bench-scale testing of TMC’s hydrometallurgical flowsheet design. Samples of nickel/cobalt/copper matte, produced by TMC in 2021, were used for testing.
The extractive team at SGS processed high-grade nickel matte directly into nickel sulphate, bypassing the step of producing nickel metal. Further, the process generated fertiliser byproducts, mitigating concerns about solid waste or tailings.
Following the successful nickel sulphate production, SGS continues testing to produce what TMC believes will be the world’s first cobalt sulfate from polymetallic nodules.
“The production of the world’s first nickel sulphate from deep-seafloor nodules is an important milestone, confirming that our custom flowsheet configuration can be deployed to process these remarkable rocks into final products suitable for use in batteries,” said TMC head of onshore development Dr Jeffrey Donald.
TMC’s NORI and TOML projects are ranked among the world’s biggest undeveloped nickel projects. With analysts warning that the quantities of critical battery metals, such as nickel and cobalt, available from domestic or allied partners will be insufficient to meet US demand from the energy transition, there is increased interest in and prioritisation of marine minerals to support energy and national security.
In March, members of the US House of Representatives introduced draft legislation calling for support for seafloor nodule collection, processing and refining.