Pub Date : 2025-09-04DOI: 10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106572
Di Wu , Xinjin Xiao , An Guo , Qiaofa Lan , Huijuan Wang , Liusheng Ge , Xiaoqiang Wen , Lingdong Sun , Chunsheng Liao
Eliminating non-rare earth anions and cations is a challenge for Chinese rare earth producers due to the increase in the contamination with non-rare earth impurities in leach solutions. Based on the decontamination mechanism of conventional alkaline reagents, a procedure for the synchronized removal of non-rare earth anions and cations from rare earth leach solutions was developed. In this work, the principal non-rare earth anions and cations in the solution (initial pH of 1.12) was decontaminated by adding lanthanum–cerium oxides to adjust the pH to 4.0 with the addition of a 20 g/100 mL aluminum-based carrier at a water bath temperature of 30 °C. The lanthanum‑cerium oxides were mixed at a lanthanum‑cerium molar ratio of 4:1 and roasted at 1000 °C. The removal efficiencies of Al3+, Fe3+, Th4+, U6+, and F− were 97.5 %, 92.7 %, 91.7 %, 97.4 %, and 95.7 %, respectively. The solid produced after decontamination could be transformed into a new aluminum-based carrier for repeated use after washing, drying, and roasting. The variation in non-rare earth anion and cation removal efficiencies was less than 3 % after three cycles. The removal of non-rare earth impurities was significantly improved, with a decrease in the loss of rare earths from 5 % to approximately 2 %. This process opens new application scenarios for highly abundant lanthanum and cerium and avoids the risk of introducing new impurities from conventional alkali sources. This process has practical significance for the green and healthy development of rare earth producing enterprises.
{"title":"Synchronized removal of non-rare earth ions (Al3+, Fe3+, Th4+, U6+, and F−) from rare earth leach solutions using lanthanum‑cerium oxides for pH adjustment","authors":"Di Wu , Xinjin Xiao , An Guo , Qiaofa Lan , Huijuan Wang , Liusheng Ge , Xiaoqiang Wen , Lingdong Sun , Chunsheng Liao","doi":"10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106572","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106572","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Eliminating non-rare earth anions and cations is a challenge for Chinese rare earth producers due to the increase in the contamination with non-rare earth impurities in leach solutions. Based on the decontamination mechanism of conventional alkaline reagents, a procedure for the synchronized removal of non-rare earth anions and cations from rare earth leach solutions was developed. In this work, the principal non-rare earth anions and cations in the solution (initial pH of 1.12) was decontaminated by adding lanthanum–cerium oxides to adjust the pH to 4.0 with the addition of a 20 g/100 mL aluminum-based carrier at a water bath temperature of 30 °C. The lanthanum‑cerium oxides were mixed at a lanthanum‑cerium molar ratio of 4:1 and roasted at 1000 °C. The removal efficiencies of Al<sup>3+</sup>, Fe<sup>3+</sup>, Th<sup>4+</sup>, U<sup>6+</sup>, and F<sup>−</sup> were 97.5 %, 92.7 %, 91.7 %, 97.4 %, and 95.7 %, respectively. The solid produced after decontamination could be transformed into a new aluminum-based carrier for repeated use after washing, drying, and roasting. The variation in non-rare earth anion and cation removal efficiencies was less than 3 % after three cycles. The removal of non-rare earth impurities was significantly improved, with a decrease in the loss of rare earths from 5 % to approximately 2 %. This process opens new application scenarios for highly abundant lanthanum and cerium and avoids the risk of introducing new impurities from conventional alkali sources. This process has practical significance for the green and healthy development of rare earth producing enterprises.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13193,"journal":{"name":"Hydrometallurgy","volume":"238 ","pages":"Article 106572"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145019905","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-02DOI: 10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106571
Hafiza Mamoona Khalid, Rafael M. Santos
This review focuses on the hydrometallurgical recovery of metals via deep eutectic solvents (DESs) and ionic liquids (ILs), which are well known for their low toxicity, cost-effectiveness, and eco-friendliness, offering a promising route for sustainable metal extraction through leaching and solvent extraction (SX) processes. The focus is on assessing the efficacy of novel leaching liquids to produce leachates and the use of these unconventional solvents as extractants and diluents in the SX process for metal extraction. This review summarizes and discusses the characteristics of the ILs and DESs used for metal recovery, including their original introduction, synthesis, and classification. The DESs and ILs can be used as lixiviants for metal leaching and have significant potential to replace mineral acids. The selective and efficient leaching of metals from minerals or wastes has been proven in many experimental studies and is surveyed in this review. Solvometallurgy is a new branch of hydrometallurgy that uses DESs and ILs for leaching and SX of metals, and several studies in which both of these solvents are used as mixtures for the recovery and extraction of metals are also included in this review. Furthermore, IL-based and DES-assisted SX processes are discussed in detail, demonstrating that they are a credible alternative to traditional chemical solvents. This review also aims to explore the benefits, challenges, and environmental consequences of using DESs and ILs.
{"title":"Deep eutectic solvents and ionic liquids in hydrometallurgical recovery of metals - A review of recent advances and challenges","authors":"Hafiza Mamoona Khalid, Rafael M. Santos","doi":"10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106571","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106571","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This review focuses on the hydrometallurgical recovery of metals via deep eutectic solvents (DESs) and ionic liquids (ILs), which are well known for their low toxicity, cost-effectiveness, and eco-friendliness, offering a promising route for sustainable metal extraction through leaching and solvent extraction (SX) processes. The focus is on assessing the efficacy of novel leaching liquids to produce leachates and the use of these unconventional solvents as extractants and diluents in the SX process for metal extraction. This review summarizes and discusses the characteristics of the ILs and DESs used for metal recovery, including their original introduction, synthesis, and classification. The DESs and ILs can be used as lixiviants for metal leaching and have significant potential to replace mineral acids. The selective and efficient leaching of metals from minerals or wastes has been proven in many experimental studies and is surveyed in this review. Solvometallurgy is a new branch of hydrometallurgy that uses DESs and ILs for leaching and SX of metals, and several studies in which both of these solvents are used as mixtures for the recovery and extraction of metals are also included in this review. Furthermore, IL-based and DES-assisted SX processes are discussed in detail, demonstrating that they are a credible alternative to traditional chemical solvents. This review also aims to explore the benefits, challenges, and environmental consequences of using DESs and ILs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13193,"journal":{"name":"Hydrometallurgy","volume":"238 ","pages":"Article 106571"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145045780","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-01DOI: 10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106566
Emmanuel Ayorinde Ajiboye , Trevor Dzwiniel
Pre-extracting Li from spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is crucial because the recovery efficiency of Li is low after other critical metals have been extracted. Traditional methods involving black mass roasting followed by water leaching have resulted in the extraction of 76 % Li and 61 % Al. However, pre-leaching Li from pretreated black mass using an oxalic acid solution at both ambient and elevated temperatures significantly improved results, achieving 98.1 % Li, 99.5 % Al, and 100 % Fe extraction while leaving Ni, Co, Mn, and Cu behind under optimal conditions. Oxalic acid crystals were recovered by refrigerating the leach solution at temperatures below 5 °C and were reused with nearly identical leaching efficiency. Selective extraction of Li from the oxalate leach solution was achieved using Cyanex® 936P under optimal conditions. Due to its extremely low Li extraction efficiency, Dichloromethane proved unsuitable as a diluent. Comparative extraction tests using Cyanex® 936P, Cyanex® 272, and DEHPA in kerosene demonstrated that Cyanex® 936P is an excellent extractant for Li, effectively separating it from other impurities. Under optimal conditions, 98.8 % of available Li was extracted using 20 % Cyanex® 936P, compared to 51.1 % with Cyanex® 272 and 39.9 % with DEHPA in kerosene. Additionally, stripping Li from Cyanex® 936P using H2SO4 and HCl was explored, with HCl yielding the best performance.
{"title":"Selective leaching and solvent extraction of Lithium from spent batteries","authors":"Emmanuel Ayorinde Ajiboye , Trevor Dzwiniel","doi":"10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106566","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106566","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pre-extracting Li from spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is crucial because the recovery efficiency of Li is low after other critical metals have been extracted. Traditional methods involving black mass roasting followed by water leaching have resulted in the extraction of 76 % Li and 61 % Al. However, pre-leaching Li from pretreated black mass using an oxalic acid solution at both ambient and elevated temperatures significantly improved results, achieving 98.1 % Li, 99.5 % Al, and 100 % Fe extraction while leaving Ni, Co, Mn, and Cu behind under optimal conditions. Oxalic acid crystals were recovered by refrigerating the leach solution at temperatures below 5 °C and were reused with nearly identical leaching efficiency. Selective extraction of Li from the oxalate leach solution was achieved using Cyanex® 936P under optimal conditions. Due to its extremely low Li extraction efficiency, Dichloromethane proved unsuitable as a diluent. Comparative extraction tests using Cyanex® 936P, Cyanex® 272, and DEHPA in kerosene demonstrated that Cyanex® 936P is an excellent extractant for Li, effectively separating it from other impurities. Under optimal conditions, 98.8 % of available Li was extracted using 20 % Cyanex® 936P, compared to 51.1 % with Cyanex® 272 and 39.9 % with DEHPA in kerosene. Additionally, stripping Li from Cyanex® 936P using H<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub> and HCl was explored, with HCl yielding the best performance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13193,"journal":{"name":"Hydrometallurgy","volume":"238 ","pages":"Article 106566"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144989073","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-08-30DOI: 10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106570
Mark G. Aylmore, Martin A. Wells, Zakaria Quadir, William D.A. Rickard, Kai Rankenburg, Brent I.A. McInnes
A suite of spodumene samples from albite-spodumene type pegmatites, mined for their lithium content, in the Archaean North Pilbara and Yilgarn Cratons regions of Western Australia, were examined to assess the influence of trace element impurities in spodumene and associated gangue phases on the thermal transformation of spodumene. Calcination of spodumene is required to convert the natural, monoclinic α-spodumene form into the tetragonal β-spodumene form, which is more amenable to recovering lithium during hydrometallurgy processing.
Spodumene contains minor concentrations of Fe (500–10,000 mg/kg), Mn (200–1400 mg/kg) and other trace element impurities incorporated within the crystal structure. Primary gangue mineralogy comprises quartz, Na/K-feldspar and mica, with secondary alteration predominantly as ‘sericitic’ phyllosilicates (muscovite-lepidolite, chlorite/cookeite mixtures) variably enriched in Fe, Mn, Mg and K relative to spodumene.
Primary and secondary mica undergo thermal dehydroxylation at temperatures (<950 °C) below the spodumene transformation temperature (970–1100 °C). Decomposed micas form melts that coat the surface and partially encapsulate the calcined spodumene grain surfaces. Feldspar decomposition at 1060 to 1200 °C, coincides with spodumene transformation, and can also result in melt formation, depending upon the composition of the feldspars (K-feldspar, albite). The thermal degradation of other mineral contaminants, such as biotite, pyroxene and amphibole from the presence of country rock (mafic, ultramafic) in the concentrate also coincides with the α- to β-spodumene phase transformation. The generated melts that coat grains can reduce the rate of α-β spodumene conversion and the subsequent ability to extract lithium from calcined spodumene.
Primary Fe and Mn impurities in spodumene, and those hosted by mica impurities within spodumene have a marked effect in decreasing the temperature of the α-γ-β spodumene conversion. Spodumene is not a strong conductor of heat, and the highly exothermic reaction of Fe and Mn oxidation within both mica and spodumene during thermal alteration affects thermal conductivity, leading to increased heat transfer within spodumene particles, which promotes the thermal transformation of spodumene at a lower temperature.
However, calcined spodumene particles with high Fe and Mn contents (> ∼ 0.5 wt%) showed black, open sintered regions, accompanied by the generation of fine (<5 μm) particles, and exsolution of Fe/Mn-oxides particles. The sintering and the generation of fines in the calciner will lead to reduced lithium recovery from calcined products.
This study illustrates the importance of minimising micaceous and feldspar components in the concentrate during the beneficiation stage, which can potentially lead to a decrease in lithium recovery during the extraction process. However, the fine-integrated nature of micas associat
{"title":"The effect and implication of impurities on the calcination of α spodumene for lithium extraction","authors":"Mark G. Aylmore, Martin A. Wells, Zakaria Quadir, William D.A. Rickard, Kai Rankenburg, Brent I.A. McInnes","doi":"10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106570","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106570","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A suite of spodumene samples from albite-spodumene type pegmatites, mined for their lithium content, in the Archaean North Pilbara and Yilgarn Cratons regions of Western Australia, were examined to assess the influence of trace element impurities in spodumene and associated gangue phases on the thermal transformation of spodumene. Calcination of spodumene is required to convert the natural, monoclinic α-spodumene form into the tetragonal β-spodumene form, which is more amenable to recovering lithium during hydrometallurgy processing.</div><div>Spodumene contains minor concentrations of Fe (500–10,000 mg/kg), Mn (200–1400 mg/kg) and other trace element impurities incorporated within the crystal structure. Primary gangue mineralogy comprises quartz, Na/K-feldspar and mica, with secondary alteration predominantly as ‘sericitic’ phyllosilicates (muscovite-lepidolite, chlorite/cookeite mixtures) variably enriched in Fe, Mn, Mg and K relative to spodumene.</div><div>Primary and secondary mica undergo thermal dehydroxylation at temperatures (<950 °C) below the spodumene transformation temperature (970–1100 °C). Decomposed micas form melts that coat the surface and partially encapsulate the calcined spodumene grain surfaces. Feldspar decomposition at 1060 to 1200 °C, coincides with spodumene transformation, and can also result in melt formation, depending upon the composition of the feldspars (K-feldspar, albite). The thermal degradation of other mineral contaminants, such as biotite, pyroxene and amphibole from the presence of country rock (mafic, ultramafic) in the concentrate also coincides with the α- to β-spodumene phase transformation. The generated melts that coat grains can reduce the rate of α-β spodumene conversion and the subsequent ability to extract lithium from calcined spodumene.</div><div>Primary Fe and Mn impurities in spodumene, and those hosted by mica impurities within spodumene have a marked effect in decreasing the temperature of the α-γ-β spodumene conversion. Spodumene is not a strong conductor of heat, and the highly exothermic reaction of Fe and Mn oxidation within both mica and spodumene during thermal alteration affects thermal conductivity, leading to increased heat transfer within spodumene particles, which promotes the thermal transformation of spodumene at a lower temperature.</div><div>However, calcined spodumene particles with high Fe and Mn contents (> ∼ 0.5 wt%) showed black, open sintered regions, accompanied by the generation of fine (<5 μm) particles, and exsolution of Fe/Mn-oxides particles. The sintering and the generation of fines in the calciner will lead to reduced lithium recovery from calcined products.</div><div>This study illustrates the importance of minimising micaceous and feldspar components in the concentrate during the beneficiation stage, which can potentially lead to a decrease in lithium recovery during the extraction process. However, the fine-integrated nature of micas associat","PeriodicalId":13193,"journal":{"name":"Hydrometallurgy","volume":"238 ","pages":"Article 106570"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144988978","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-08-28DOI: 10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106569
Thomas Barral , Laurent Claparede , Nicolas Dacheux
The aim of this work is to study the dissolution kinetics of a series of powdered UO2+x samples with different structural and microstructural properties. For this purpose, UO2+x powders were prepared by hydroxide precipitation and then heat-treated at different temperatures under argon and reducing atmospheres. The calcined UO2+x samples were first investigated ex-situ by several physicochemical techniques in order to highlight the dependence of the normalized dissolution rates on various parameters. The PXRD experiments showed the preservation of the fluorite structure under reducing atmosphere over the whole temperature range studied, while the formation of a U3O8 phase was highlighted under argon at T ≤ 1100 °C. The study of the dissolution of UO2+x samples first highlighted the effect of increasing the calcination temperature (decrease of SSA), which significantly improves the chemical durability of the solids. The higher the calcination temperature, the lower the reactivity of the sample and the longer the time required to reach full dissolution. Secondly, the presence of a U3O8 fraction in some samples calcined under argon resulted in a higher normalized dissolution rate. For comparison, the normalized dissolution rate of a pure U3O8 sample reached RL = (5.6 ± 1.1) × 10−1 g m−2 d−1, a higher value than that of UO2+x, RL = 5.5 × 10−2 g m−2 d−1 on average. Furthermore, these samples showed no change in kinetic regime during dissolution, which could be explained by the blocking by U3O8 of the transition to a kinetic dissolution regime autocatalyzed by nitrogen species.
本研究的目的是研究一系列具有不同结构和微观结构性质的UO2+x粉末样品的溶解动力学。为此,采用氢氧化物沉淀法制备了UO2+x粉末,并在氩气和还原气氛下进行了不同温度的热处理。为了突出标准化溶解速率对各种参数的依赖性,我们首先通过几种物理化学技术对煅烧的UO2+x样品进行了非原位研究。PXRD实验表明,在整个研究温度范围内,还原性气氛下,萤石结构得以保存,而在T≤1100℃的氩气条件下,U3O8相的形成较为突出。UO2+x样品的溶解研究首先突出了提高煅烧温度(降低SSA)的效果,显著提高了固体的化学耐久性。煅烧温度越高,样品的反应性越低,达到完全溶解所需的时间越长。其次,在氩气下煅烧的一些样品中存在U3O8馏分,导致了更高的归一化溶解速率。相比之下,U3O8纯样品的标准化溶解速率RL =(5.6±1.1)× 10−1 g m−2 d−1,高于UO2+x的平均RL = 5.5 × 10−2 g m−2 d−1。此外,这些样品在溶解过程中没有表现出动力学模式的变化,这可以解释为U3O8阻断了向氮自催化的动力学溶解模式的转变。
{"title":"Impact of firing temperature and atmosphere on the chemical reactivity of UO2+x powders in nitric acid","authors":"Thomas Barral , Laurent Claparede , Nicolas Dacheux","doi":"10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106569","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106569","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The aim of this work is to study the dissolution kinetics of a series of powdered UO<sub>2+x</sub> samples with different structural and microstructural properties. For this purpose, UO<sub>2+x</sub> powders were prepared by hydroxide precipitation and then heat-treated at different temperatures under argon and reducing atmospheres. The calcined UO<sub>2+x</sub> samples were first investigated <em>ex-situ</em> by several physicochemical techniques in order to highlight the dependence of the normalized dissolution rates on various parameters. The PXRD experiments showed the preservation of the fluorite structure under reducing atmosphere over the whole temperature range studied, while the formation of a U<sub>3</sub>O<sub>8</sub> phase was highlighted under argon at <em>T</em> ≤ 1100 °C. The study of the dissolution of UO<sub>2+x</sub> samples first highlighted the effect of increasing the calcination temperature (decrease of S<sub>SA</sub>), which significantly improves the chemical durability of the solids. The higher the calcination temperature, the lower the reactivity of the sample and the longer the time required to reach full dissolution. Secondly, the presence of a U<sub>3</sub>O<sub>8</sub> fraction in some samples calcined under argon resulted in a higher normalized dissolution rate. For comparison, the normalized dissolution rate of a pure U<sub>3</sub>O<sub>8</sub> sample reached <em>R</em><sub><em>L</em></sub> = (5.6 ± 1.1) × 10<sup>−1</sup> g m<sup>−2</sup> d<sup>−1</sup>, a higher value than that of UO<sub>2+x</sub>, <em>R</em><sub><em>L</em></sub> = 5.5 × 10<sup>−2</sup> g m<sup>−2</sup> d<sup>−1</sup> on average. Furthermore, these samples showed no change in kinetic regime during dissolution, which could be explained by the blocking by U<sub>3</sub>O<sub>8</sub> of the transition to a kinetic dissolution regime autocatalyzed by nitrogen species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13193,"journal":{"name":"Hydrometallurgy","volume":"238 ","pages":"Article 106569"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144925967","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-08-27DOI: 10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106568
Shuai Rao , Dongxing Wang , Hongyang Cao , Wei Zhu , Lijuan Duan , Zhiqiang Liu , Zhiyuan Ma
Conventional H2SO4 pressure leaching of copper anode slime exhibits limited selenium extraction efficiency owing to the undesirable precipitation of elemental selenium. To address this challenge, this study developed an innovative sequential process combining hydrothermal phase transformation, atmospheric H2SO4 leaching and stepwise reduction. Thermodynamic analysis using E-pH diagrams revealed the dissolution pathways: Cu2Se underwent stepwise transformation into soluble H2SeO3 via an intermediate CuSeO3·2H2O phase, whereas tellurium species evolved from Cu2Te to Te(OH)3+ through TeO2 intermediates. Under optimal conditions, the integrated hydrothermal conversion-atmospheric leaching process achieved extraction efficiencies of 98.9 % Cu, 98.3 % Se, and 94.8 % Te. Subsequent recovery of selenium and tellurium from the resulting leachate employed stepwise reduction and purification, yielding final products with purities of 98.4 wt% Se and 99.1 wt% Te, respectively.
{"title":"Extraction of Se and Te from copper anode slime through pressure oxidation, atmospheric H2SO4 leaching and reduction with sulfur dioxide and copper powder","authors":"Shuai Rao , Dongxing Wang , Hongyang Cao , Wei Zhu , Lijuan Duan , Zhiqiang Liu , Zhiyuan Ma","doi":"10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106568","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106568","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Conventional H<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub> pressure leaching of copper anode slime exhibits limited selenium extraction efficiency owing to the undesirable precipitation of elemental selenium. To address this challenge, this study developed an innovative sequential process combining hydrothermal phase transformation, atmospheric H<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub> leaching and stepwise reduction. Thermodynamic analysis using E-pH diagrams revealed the dissolution pathways: Cu<sub>2</sub>Se underwent stepwise transformation into soluble H<sub>2</sub>SeO<sub>3</sub> via an intermediate CuSeO<sub>3</sub>·2H<sub>2</sub>O phase, whereas tellurium species evolved from Cu<sub>2</sub>Te to Te(OH)<sub>3</sub><sup>+</sup> through TeO<sub>2</sub> intermediates. Under optimal conditions, the integrated hydrothermal conversion-atmospheric leaching process achieved extraction efficiencies of 98.9 % Cu, 98.3 % Se, and 94.8 % Te. Subsequent recovery of selenium and tellurium from the resulting leachate employed stepwise reduction and purification, yielding final products with purities of 98.4 wt% Se and 99.1 wt% Te, respectively.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13193,"journal":{"name":"Hydrometallurgy","volume":"238 ","pages":"Article 106568"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144988979","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A novel diisobutyl diamide (DIBDA) grafted resin was synthesized by chemically grafting the amidic functionalities onto a commercially available styrene-divinylbenzene polymer resin. The resin was characterized using standard techniques such as FTIR, solid-state 13-C CP/MAS NMR, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The sorption behavior of uranium and competing metal ions was systematically evaluated in both batch and column modes. Optimal uranium uptake was achieved from a dilute nitric acid medium at pH 2–3 in the presence of 2.0 M nitrate ions. More than 98 % uranium was stripped efficiently in a single step using 0.25 M HNO3. Column studies using a feed containing 0.1 g/L U and a 6 mL resin bed volume yielded a strip solution with uranium concentration exceeding 1.2 g/L, corresponding to a concentration factor above 12. The resin exhibited excellent selectivity for uranium over common matrix elements such as Fe, Y, Ca, Al, and Na. Kinetic studies and sorption isotherm modelling revealed the significant role of amidic functional groups in the selective and efficient sorption of U(VI).
将二异丁基二胺(DIBDA)接枝树脂与市售苯乙烯-二乙烯基苯聚合物树脂进行化学接枝,合成了一种新型的DIBDA接枝树脂。采用FTIR,固态13-C CP/MAS NMR,热重分析(TGA),扫描电子显微镜(SEM)和能量色散光谱(EDS)等标准技术对树脂进行表征。在批式和柱式两种模式下系统地评价了铀和竞争金属离子的吸附行为。在pH为2-3的稀硝酸介质中,在2.0 M硝酸离子的存在下,获得了最佳的铀吸收率。在0.25 M HNO3的条件下,一次有效地剥离了98%以上的铀。柱式研究使用含有0.1 g/L铀的进料和6 mL树脂床体积,得到铀浓度超过1.2 g/L的条状溶液,对应于浓度系数大于12。该树脂对铀的选择性优于普通基体元素,如Fe、Y、Ca、Al和Na。动力学研究和吸附等温线模型揭示了酰胺官能团对U(VI)的选择性和高效吸附的重要作用。
{"title":"Novel diisobutyl diamide grafted polymer resin for uranium recovery from mild nitric acid medium","authors":"Vinita Kumari , Ritesh Ruhela , Dhruva Kumar Singh , Mahesh Tiwari , Sanjay Kumar Sahu","doi":"10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106552","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106552","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A novel diisobutyl diamide (DIBDA) grafted resin was synthesized by chemically grafting the amidic functionalities onto a commercially available styrene-divinylbenzene polymer resin. The resin was characterized using standard techniques such as FTIR, solid-state 13-C CP/MAS NMR, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The sorption behavior of uranium and competing metal ions was systematically evaluated in both batch and column modes. Optimal uranium uptake was achieved from a dilute nitric acid medium at pH 2–3 in the presence of 2.0 M nitrate ions. More than 98 % uranium was stripped efficiently in a single step using 0.25 M HNO<sub>3</sub>. Column studies using a feed containing 0.1 g/L U and a 6 mL resin bed volume yielded a strip solution with uranium concentration exceeding 1.2 g/L, corresponding to a concentration factor above 12. The resin exhibited excellent selectivity for uranium over common matrix elements such as Fe, Y, Ca, Al, and Na. Kinetic studies and sorption isotherm modelling revealed the significant role of amidic functional groups in the selective and efficient sorption of U(VI).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13193,"journal":{"name":"Hydrometallurgy","volume":"237 ","pages":"Article 106552"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144893328","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-08-23DOI: 10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106556
Luis Beiza , Jochen Petersen , Lilian Velásquez-Yévenes
The dissolution of chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) in a heap leaching environment is known to progress slowly; this is mainly attributed to the formation of a product layer that inhibits the dissolution of copper from the mineral. Transporting the dissolved ions from the inner regions of the larger particles to the bulk solution through cracks and/or pores might also slow the process. Therefore, a systematic long-term study has been undertaken to determine the presence and propagation of pores, fissures or crack networks in 12–17 mm particles of a sulfide ore containing mainly quartz (SiO2), chalcopyrite and pyrite (FeS2) during its dissolution under chloride-rich heap leaching conditions. Each particle was placed in a cylindrical receptacle and flooded with 0.1 mol/L H2SO4 solutions at 0, 20 and 150 g/L of chloride (as NaCl) using 0, 0.5 and 1 g/L initial cupric ion as the oxidant and leached for a period of up to 180 days at room temperature (18–22 °C). The generation of cracks and fissures and dissolution of mineral phases were observed using X-ray Computed Tomography (X-CT) at regular intervals during leaching. Additional experiments were run using 150 g/L Cl− to evaluate acidity from pH -0.4 (1.0 mol/L H2SO4) up to pH 3, as well as the effect of temperature at room temperature and 50 °C.
The results indicated that copper dissolution increased with increasing chloride concentration at room temperature and that the initial presence of cupric ions somewhat enhances the extraction. It was found that between pH 1 and 0.2 (0.1 mol/L H2SO4) at 150 g/L Cl− the dissolution is enhanced but inhibited at higher acid concentration. Low acidity (pH 3) promotes the precipitation of Fe that can block the pores and inhibit the dissolution of chalcopyrite. The X-CT scans confirmed that the gradual evolution of fissures and network of cracks over time enhanced the solution contact with the value mineral inside the particles, which then gradually disintegrated. In line with the leaching results, this effect seemed to be intensified at the higher chloride concentrations and when increasing temperature from 20 to 50 °C. The homogenous dissolution of chalcopyrite grains throughout the particle hints at the presence of galvanic coupling with pyrite grains as the key mode of chalcopyrite dissolution.
{"title":"X-ray tomography study on the leaching dynamics of, and pore evolution in, large chalcopyrite ore particles during chloride leaching","authors":"Luis Beiza , Jochen Petersen , Lilian Velásquez-Yévenes","doi":"10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106556","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106556","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The dissolution of chalcopyrite (CuFeS<sub>2</sub>) in a heap leaching environment is known to progress slowly; this is mainly attributed to the formation of a product layer that inhibits the dissolution of copper from the mineral. Transporting the dissolved ions from the inner regions of the larger particles to the bulk solution through cracks and/or pores might also slow the process. Therefore, a systematic long-term study has been undertaken to determine the presence and propagation of pores, fissures or crack networks in 12–17 mm particles of a sulfide ore containing mainly quartz (SiO<sub>2</sub>), chalcopyrite and pyrite (FeS<sub>2</sub>) during its dissolution under chloride-rich heap leaching conditions. Each particle was placed in a cylindrical receptacle and flooded with 0.1 mol/L H<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub> solutions at 0, 20 and 150 g/L of chloride (as NaCl) using 0, 0.5 and 1 g/L initial cupric ion as the oxidant and leached for a period of up to 180 days at room temperature (18–22 °C). The generation of cracks and fissures and dissolution of mineral phases were observed using X-ray Computed Tomography (X-CT) at regular intervals during leaching. Additional experiments were run using 150 g/L Cl<sup>−</sup> to evaluate acidity from pH -0.4 (1.0 mol/L H<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub>) up to pH 3, as well as the effect of temperature at room temperature and 50 °C.</div><div>The results indicated that copper dissolution increased with increasing chloride concentration at room temperature and that the initial presence of cupric ions somewhat enhances the extraction. It was found that between pH 1 and 0.2 (0.1 mol/L H<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub>) at 150 g/L Cl<sup>−</sup> the dissolution is enhanced but inhibited at higher acid concentration. Low acidity (pH 3) promotes the precipitation of Fe that can block the pores and inhibit the dissolution of chalcopyrite. The X-CT scans confirmed that the gradual evolution of fissures and network of cracks over time enhanced the solution contact with the value mineral inside the particles, which then gradually disintegrated. In line with the leaching results, this effect seemed to be intensified at the higher chloride concentrations and when increasing temperature from 20 to 50 °C. The homogenous dissolution of chalcopyrite grains throughout the particle hints at the presence of galvanic coupling with pyrite grains as the key mode of chalcopyrite dissolution.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13193,"journal":{"name":"Hydrometallurgy","volume":"238 ","pages":"Article 106556"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144895839","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-08-22DOI: 10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106555
Ueslei G. Favero , Ygor R. Guimarães , Nayara T.P. Martins , Nathan P. Viana , Guilherme M.D. Ferreira , Renê C. Silva , Tiago A. Silva , Maria C. Hespanhol
The pyrometallurgical process for extracting copper from chalcopyrite has disadvantages related to energy consumption and pollution due to toxic gas emissions, necessitating the adoption of more sustainable approaches for copper extraction. This study proposes a circular methodology for hydrometallurgy-based leaching of chalcopyrite concentrate, using deep eutectic solvents (DES) composed of methanesulfonic acid and choline salts as green leaching agents, focusing on waste minimization. Evaluation of leaching efficiency was performed varying the anion in the choline salt (chloride, bitartrate, or dihydrogen citrate), the solid/liquid ratio (RS-L of 0.04 and 0.02 g g−1), and the DES water content (0, 10, and 30 %). After in situ copper electrodeposition directly from the leachate obtained from chalcopyrite leaching, the residue remaining was combined with an agro-industrial biomass waste to prepare a high-performance adsorbent for removing 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) from aqueous media. The DES formed with choline chloride, methanesulfonic acid, and 30 % water, used at RS-L of 0.04 g g−1, enabled the leaching of 75 % of the copper from chalcopyrite. The redox behavior of the dissolved copper in the DES leachate was investigated by cyclic voltammetry, and copper was recovered by electrodeposition as metallic copper with purity of 99 %. The adsorbent exhibited a superior 2,4-D removal capacity of 170 mg g−1, compared to other materials reported in the literature. The proposed process is a proof-of-concept that the use of DES can reduce the number of steps required for recovery of high-purity copper from chalcopyrite. This is a sustainable method that integrates material and energy flows, safely disposes of potentially harmful elements, and achieves zero-waste mining by applying combined circular hydrometallurgy principles.
从黄铜矿中提取铜的火法冶金工艺存在能源消耗和有毒气体排放造成的污染等缺点,需要采用更可持续的方法提取铜。本研究提出了一种基于湿法冶金的黄铜矿精矿浸出循环方法,使用由甲磺酸和胆碱盐组成的深共晶溶剂(DES)作为绿色浸出剂,重点是尽量减少废物。通过改变胆碱盐(氯化物、酒石酸盐或柠檬酸二氢盐)中的阴离子、固液比(RS-L分别为0.04和0.02 g g - 1)以及DES含水量(0、10和30%)来评估浸出效率。将黄铜矿浸出的渗滤液就地电沉积铜后,将其残渣与农工生物质废弃物结合,制备了一种高性能吸附剂,用于去除水中介质中的2,4-二氯苯氧乙酸(2,4- d)。以氯化胆碱、甲磺酸和30%的水为原料,在0.04 g g−1的RS-L条件下形成DES,可以从黄铜矿中浸出75%的铜。采用循环伏安法研究了DES渗滤液中溶解铜的氧化还原行为,并采用电沉积法回收了纯度为99%的金属铜。与文献中报道的其他材料相比,该吸附剂具有170 mg g−1的优越2,4- d去除能力。所提出的工艺是一个概念证明,使用DES可以减少从黄铜矿中回收高纯度铜所需的步骤数。这是一种可持续的方法,它整合了材料和能量流,安全处理潜在的有害元素,并通过应用联合循环湿法冶金原理实现零废物开采。
{"title":"Sustainable copper recovery from chalcopyrite: Eutectic solvent as a green medium for leaching, in situ electrodeposition, and platform for adsorbent modification: Preliminary attempt for a zero-waste process","authors":"Ueslei G. Favero , Ygor R. Guimarães , Nayara T.P. Martins , Nathan P. Viana , Guilherme M.D. Ferreira , Renê C. Silva , Tiago A. Silva , Maria C. Hespanhol","doi":"10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106555","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106555","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The pyrometallurgical process for extracting copper from chalcopyrite has disadvantages related to energy consumption and pollution due to toxic gas emissions, necessitating the adoption of more sustainable approaches for copper extraction. This study proposes a circular methodology for hydrometallurgy-based leaching of chalcopyrite concentrate, using deep eutectic solvents (DES) composed of methanesulfonic acid and choline salts as green leaching agents, focusing on waste minimization. Evaluation of leaching efficiency was performed varying the anion in the choline salt (chloride, bitartrate, or dihydrogen citrate), the solid/liquid ratio (R<sub>S-L</sub> of 0.04 and 0.02 g g<sup>−1</sup>), and the DES water content (0, 10, and 30 %). After in situ copper electrodeposition directly from the leachate obtained from chalcopyrite leaching, the residue remaining was combined with an agro-industrial biomass waste to prepare a high-performance adsorbent for removing 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) from aqueous media. The DES formed with choline chloride, methanesulfonic acid, and 30 % water, used at R<sub>S-L</sub> of 0.04 g g<sup>−1</sup>, enabled the leaching of 75 % of the copper from chalcopyrite. The redox behavior of the dissolved copper in the DES leachate was investigated by cyclic voltammetry, and copper was recovered by electrodeposition as metallic copper with purity of 99 %. The adsorbent exhibited a superior 2,4-D removal capacity of 170 mg g<sup>−1</sup>, compared to other materials reported in the literature. The proposed process is a proof-of-concept that the use of DES can reduce the number of steps required for recovery of high-purity copper from chalcopyrite. This is a sustainable method that integrates material and energy flows, safely disposes of potentially harmful elements, and achieves zero-waste mining by applying combined circular hydrometallurgy principles.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13193,"journal":{"name":"Hydrometallurgy","volume":"238 ","pages":"Article 106555"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144903885","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-08-20DOI: 10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106554
Nazanin Bahaloo-Horeh, Farzaneh Sadri
Siderophores are low-molecular-weight, metal-chelating biometabolites that exhibit the ability to bind iron and other metal ions with high selectivity. Over 500 structurally distinct siderophores have been identified, offering diverse coordination mechanisms for potential metal complexation. Recent research has investigated their use in extracting metals from both primary and secondary sources, including ores, mine tailings, electronic waste, and industrial effluents—primarily under laboratory conditions. This review critically examines reported findings across various metal–siderophore systems, evaluating factors such as leaching parameters, synergistic use with co-lixiviants, and integration into hybrid approaches. However, no commercial applications currently exist, and significant economic and technical barriers—particularly high production costs and scalability challenges—limit practical viability. This review aims to consolidate current scientific understanding, highlight existing limitations, and outline realistic future research directions focused on overcoming technical and economic constraints to broader implementation.
{"title":"Advancements in siderophore-based technologies for metal biorecovery","authors":"Nazanin Bahaloo-Horeh, Farzaneh Sadri","doi":"10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106554","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106554","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Siderophores are low-molecular-weight, metal-chelating biometabolites that exhibit the ability to bind iron and other metal ions with high selectivity. Over 500 structurally distinct siderophores have been identified, offering diverse coordination mechanisms for potential metal complexation. Recent research has investigated their use in extracting metals from both primary and secondary sources, including ores, mine tailings, electronic waste, and industrial effluents—primarily under laboratory conditions. This review critically examines reported findings across various metal–siderophore systems, evaluating factors such as leaching parameters, synergistic use with co-lixiviants, and integration into hybrid approaches. However, no commercial applications currently exist, and significant economic and technical barriers—particularly high production costs and scalability challenges—limit practical viability. This review aims to consolidate current scientific understanding, highlight existing limitations, and outline realistic future research directions focused on overcoming technical and economic constraints to broader implementation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13193,"journal":{"name":"Hydrometallurgy","volume":"238 ","pages":"Article 106554"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144904031","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}