Co-treatment of converter slag and pyrrhotite tailings via high pressure oxidative leaching.

High pressure oxidative acid leaching (HPOXAL) was successfully applied to slow-cooled converter slags from Vale's operations in Sudbury (Ontario, Canada). Extractions of Ni, Co and Cu exceeded 90% within 15-20 min and levelled at 95-97% after 45 min at 250°C, 90 psi O(2) overpressure and 70 g/L initial H(2)SO(4). Pyrrhotite tailings with ∼ 0.