Based on the concept of phytomining

the nickel hyperaccumulator could be employed to absorb nickel from the low grade laterite nickel ore or nickel-polluted soil and transport nickel to the aerial parts of the plant

and the harvested nickel hyperaccumulators are considered as secondary nickel-rich resources. Then nickel-rich bio-ore with nickel concentration roughly 20% can be obtained via incineration. By reviewing the mechanism of nickel-rich hyperaccumulators to transport nickel transport

the agronomic control of planting nickel-rich hyperaccumulators

and the existing methods of producing pure nickel

lewis acid catalyst

nickel sulfate hexahydrate and nickel nano-materials from harvested nickel hyperaccumulators or nickel-rich bio-ore

this paper proposes the prospects of the possible “Green Metallurgical Nickel” research trend. It is expected to use nickel hyperaccumulator to repair nickel environmental pollution

to reduce nickel hazards to humans and other organisms and develop a new type of “green nickel-smelting” technologies to alleviate the shortage of Chinese nickel resources.