In order to recover high-quality
scandium from
nickel oxide ores efficiently, this method comprises: a leaching step (S1) for feeding
Ni oxide ores and
sulfuric acid into a
pressure vessel, and subjecting the mixture to
solid-liquid separation to form a
leachate and a leach residue; a
neutralization step (S2) for adding a neutralizing agent to the
leachate, and thus forming a
neutralization sediment and a post-
neutralization fluid; a sulfurization step (S3) for adding a sulfurizing agent to the post-neutralization fluid, and separating the obtained mixture into Ni
sulfide and a post-sulfurization fluid; an
ion-exchange step (S4) for bringing the post-sulfurization fluid into contact with a
chelating resin, making Sc adsorbed on the
chelating resin, and forming an Sc eluate; a
solvent extraction step (S6) for bringing the Sc eluate into contact with an extracting agent, adding a back-extraction agent to the extract, and thus forming back-extracted matter; and a
roasting step (S8) for
roasting the back-extracted matter, and thus forming Sc
oxide. It is preferable that the method further includes, after the
ion exchange step (S4), a concentration step (S5) for forming a
sediment from the Sc eluate and dissolving the
sediment in an acid, and includes, after the
solvent extraction step (S6), an Sc
precipitation step (S7) for dissolving the back-extracted matter in
hydrochloric acid, adding
oxalic acid to the obtained solution, and thus forming Sc
oxalate crystals.