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}
Pub Date : 2025-08-19DOI: 10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106553
Jiayu Mi , Xingyu Chen , Ailiang Chen , Xuheng Liu , Jiangtao Li , Lihua He , Fenglong Sun , Zhongwei Zhao
The ammonia leaching-purification-crystallization process is the conventional treatment method of molybdenum calcine. This process generates large amounts of nitrogen-containing wastewater and exhaust gases. Based on the self-coordination principle of Mo, where MoO3 with low-polymerization ability combines with Na2MoO4 into highly polymerized polymolybdates, this study proposes a novel, green leaching process using Na2MoO4 for the selective extraction of Mo from molybdenum calcine. Leaching conditions were optimized, and the reaction mechanism was elucidated through the identification of solids using XRD, EDS mapping, XPS, and Raman spectroscopy. Results show that under optimal conditions, the leaching efficiency reached 98.6 %. Molybdenum from MoO3, PbMoO4, and FeMoO4 phases in the calcine was effectively extracted, while Fe and Pb oxides remained in the leach residue as PbO and Fe2O3·1.2H2O, respectively. In the leachate, Mo existed primarily as Mo7O246−, HMo7O245−, and MoO42−. This study presents an environmentally friendly process for extracting Mo from molybdenum calcine.
{"title":"An investigation into the sodium molybdate leaching of molybdenum calcine","authors":"Jiayu Mi , Xingyu Chen , Ailiang Chen , Xuheng Liu , Jiangtao Li , Lihua He , Fenglong Sun , Zhongwei Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106553","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106553","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The ammonia leaching-purification-crystallization process is the conventional treatment method of molybdenum calcine. This process generates large amounts of nitrogen-containing wastewater and exhaust gases. Based on the self-coordination principle of Mo, where MoO<sub>3</sub> with low-polymerization ability combines with Na<sub>2</sub>MoO<sub>4</sub> into highly polymerized polymolybdates, this study proposes a novel, green leaching process using Na<sub>2</sub>MoO<sub>4</sub> for the selective extraction of Mo from molybdenum calcine. Leaching conditions were optimized, and the reaction mechanism was elucidated through the identification of solids using XRD, EDS mapping, XPS, and Raman spectroscopy. Results show that under optimal conditions, the leaching efficiency reached 98.6 %. Molybdenum from MoO<sub>3</sub>, PbMoO<sub>4</sub>, and FeMoO<sub>4</sub> phases in the calcine was effectively extracted, while Fe and Pb oxides remained in the leach residue as PbO and Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>·1.2H<sub>2</sub>O, respectively. In the leachate, Mo existed primarily as Mo<sub>7</sub>O<sub>24</sub><sup>6−</sup>, HMo<sub>7</sub>O<sub>24</sub><sup>5−</sup>, and MoO<sub>4</sub><sup>2−</sup>. This study presents an environmentally friendly process for extracting Mo from molybdenum calcine.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13193,"journal":{"name":"Hydrometallurgy","volume":"237 ","pages":"Article 106553"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144886127","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 : 2025-08-13DOI: 10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106551
Huiying Shi , Yi Luo , Ying Deng , Jianhao Dai , Jianfei Zhang , Leming Ou
The recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) represents the terminal phase of the new energy industry chain and plays a pivotal role in resource conservation and environmental protection. Despite increasing attention, the development of green and efficient recycling strategies remains a substantial challenge. In recent years, various environmentally benign solvents—including supercritical fluids, deep eutectic solvents (DES), and ionic liquids (ILs)—have been explored to promote the sustainable recycling of LIBs. Among these, the application of biomass-derived reagents (BDRs) has emerged as a promising approach due to their renewability and low environmental impact. In this study, a novel leaching strategy employing the natural organic molecule dimethyl-β-propionic acid thiophene (DMPT) is proposed for the efficient and environmentally friendly recovery of valuable metals from spent ternary LIB cathodes. Leveraging the synergistic action of carboxyl functional groups and chloride ions inherent in the DMPT structure, leaching efficiencies of Li, Ni, Co, and Mn reached 98.7 %, 97.2 %, 97.8 %, and 98.3 %, respectively. The leaching reactions and products were systematically investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Compared with conventional hydrometallurgical processes, this DMPT-based method eliminates the need for strong acids, bases, or additional reducing agents, thus minimizing secondary pollution. The proposed approach offers a green, sustainable, and effective alternative for the recovery of critical metals from spent LIBs, and holds significant potential for future industrial application.
{"title":"Recovery of valuable metals from spent lithium-ion batteries based on a green and efficient leaching system of dimethyl-β-propionic acid thiophene (DMPT)","authors":"Huiying Shi , Yi Luo , Ying Deng , Jianhao Dai , Jianfei Zhang , Leming Ou","doi":"10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106551","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106551","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) represents the terminal phase of the new energy industry chain and plays a pivotal role in resource conservation and environmental protection. Despite increasing attention, the development of green and efficient recycling strategies remains a substantial challenge. In recent years, various environmentally benign solvents—including supercritical fluids, deep eutectic solvents (DES), and ionic liquids (ILs)—have been explored to promote the sustainable recycling of LIBs. Among these, the application of biomass-derived reagents (BDRs) has emerged as a promising approach due to their renewability and low environmental impact. In this study, a novel leaching strategy employing the natural organic molecule dimethyl-β-propionic acid thiophene (DMPT) is proposed for the efficient and environmentally friendly recovery of valuable metals from spent ternary LIB cathodes. Leveraging the synergistic action of carboxyl functional groups and chloride ions inherent in the DMPT structure, leaching efficiencies of Li, Ni, Co, and Mn reached 98.7 %, 97.2 %, 97.8 %, and 98.3 %, respectively. The leaching reactions and products were systematically investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Compared with conventional hydrometallurgical processes, this DMPT-based method eliminates the need for strong acids, bases, or additional reducing agents, thus minimizing secondary pollution. The proposed approach offers a green, sustainable, and effective alternative for the recovery of critical metals from spent LIBs, and holds significant potential for future industrial application.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13193,"journal":{"name":"Hydrometallurgy","volume":"237 ","pages":"Article 106551"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144828658","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 : 2025-08-06DOI: 10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106550
Uthej Veerla , Long Fan
The increasing demand for rare earth elements (REEs) in modern technologies has led to growing interest in their efficient recovery from alternative sources. Coal ash, a waste product from coal combustion, has been identified as a potential reservoir of valuable REEs, with concentrations ranging from 270 to 1480 mg/kg. This study investigates the recovery of REEs from various ranks of coal ashes using environmentally benign supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO₂) with tributyl phosphate (TBP) and nitric acid (HNO₃) as complexing agents. It suggests the optimal extraction conditions for potential industrial application. Experimental results indicate that sub-bituminous coal ash exhibits the highest REE recovery (60 %), followed by bituminous (48 %) and anthracite (38 %). The extraction mechanism involves three key steps: (1) dissolution of metal oxides into metal ions using HNO₃, (2) complexation of metal ions with TBP, and (3) extraction and dissolution of metal complexes in SC-CO₂. The optimum extraction conditions were determined at 60 °C, 2175 psi (15 MPa), a solid-to-chelating-agent ratio of 10:1, 120-min residence time, and TBP-HNO₃ ratio of 1:5. Under these conditions, anthracite ash achieved a recovery of 120 mg/L, bituminous ash 330 mg/L, and sub-bituminous ash 180 mg/L. The five-stage purification process that effectively purified REEs by reducing impurities such as Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg and Mn with minimal environmental impact due to CO₂ recyclability. This research highlights supercritical fluid extraction (SCFE) as a green, scalable alternative for REEs recovery, supporting circular economy principles and offering an estimated $4.3 billion annual economic potential from U.S. coal ash.
{"title":"Investigation of rare earth element extraction from coal byproducts using supercritical CO2","authors":"Uthej Veerla , Long Fan","doi":"10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106550","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106550","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The increasing demand for rare earth elements (REEs) in modern technologies has led to growing interest in their efficient recovery from alternative sources. Coal ash, a waste product from coal combustion, has been identified as a potential reservoir of valuable REEs, with concentrations ranging from 270 to 1480 mg/kg. This study investigates the recovery of REEs from various ranks of coal ashes using environmentally benign supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO₂) with tributyl phosphate (TBP) and nitric acid (HNO₃) as complexing agents. It suggests the optimal extraction conditions for potential industrial application. Experimental results indicate that sub-bituminous coal ash exhibits the highest REE recovery (60 %), followed by bituminous (48 %) and anthracite (38 %). The extraction mechanism involves three key steps: (1) dissolution of metal oxides into metal ions using HNO₃, (2) complexation of metal ions with TBP, and (3) extraction and dissolution of metal complexes in SC-CO₂. The optimum extraction conditions were determined at 60 °C, 2175 psi (15 MPa), a solid-to-chelating-agent ratio of 10:1, 120-min residence time, and TBP-HNO₃ ratio of 1:5. Under these conditions, anthracite ash achieved a recovery of 120 mg/L, bituminous ash 330 mg/L, and sub-bituminous ash 180 mg/L. The five-stage purification process that effectively purified REEs by reducing impurities such as Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg and Mn with minimal environmental impact due to CO₂ recyclability. This research highlights supercritical fluid extraction (SCFE) as a green, scalable alternative for REEs recovery, supporting circular economy principles and offering an estimated $4.3 billion annual economic potential from U.S. coal ash.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13193,"journal":{"name":"Hydrometallurgy","volume":"237 ","pages":"Article 106550"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144781631","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 : 2025-07-29DOI: 10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106536
Wenjia Kou , Wengang Liu , Wenbao Liu , Wei Zuo , Weichao Li
To improve the utilization of valuable metal components in iron-bearing serpentine tailings, leaching experiments were conducted with microwave pretreatment, and the leaching conditions were optimized. The MgO and total Fe (Fe(II) and Fe(III)) leaching efficiencies reached 97.0 % and 50.9 %, respectively, using 3.0 wt% fluorite (CaF2) powder (relative to the raw ore mass), 400 W microwave pretreatment for 3 min, 70 °C reaction temperature, 30 min reaction time, 4.0 mol/L sulfuric acid, 4:1 liquid–solid ratio (mL/g), and 300 rpm stirring speed. Therefore, microwave pretreatment significantly improves the leaching efficiencies of magnesium and iron in iron-bearing serpentine tailings with the assistance of fluorite. This is because hematite in the iron-bearing serpentine tailings is less reactive toward sulfuric acid in the conventional leaching process. By contrast, microwave irradiation alters the phase composition of hematite in the serpentine tailings, enhancing its reactivity with sulfuric acid and thus facilitating iron leaching.
{"title":"Microwave-enhanced leaching of magnesium and iron from iron-bearing serpentine tailings","authors":"Wenjia Kou , Wengang Liu , Wenbao Liu , Wei Zuo , Weichao Li","doi":"10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106536","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106536","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To improve the utilization of valuable metal components in iron-bearing serpentine tailings, leaching experiments were conducted with microwave pretreatment, and the leaching conditions were optimized. The MgO and total Fe (Fe(II) and Fe(III)) leaching efficiencies reached 97.0 % and 50.9 %, respectively, using 3.0 wt% fluorite (CaF<sub>2</sub>) powder (relative to the raw ore mass), 400 W microwave pretreatment for 3 min, 70 °C reaction temperature, 30 min reaction time, 4.0 mol/L sulfuric acid, 4:1 liquid–solid ratio (mL/g), and 300 rpm stirring speed. Therefore, microwave pretreatment significantly improves the leaching efficiencies of magnesium and iron in iron-bearing serpentine tailings with the assistance of fluorite. This is because hematite in the iron-bearing serpentine tailings is less reactive toward sulfuric acid in the conventional leaching process. By contrast, microwave irradiation alters the phase composition of hematite in the serpentine tailings, enhancing its reactivity with sulfuric acid and thus facilitating iron leaching.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13193,"journal":{"name":"Hydrometallurgy","volume":"237 ","pages":"Article 106536"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144750658","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 : 2025-07-26DOI: 10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106549
Dongfeng Zhou , Shuai Rao , Xingbin Li , Niangao Teng , Zhigan Deng , Hongyang Cao , Dongxing Wang , Zhiyuan Ma , Zhiqiang Liu
Industrial extraction of Ga and Ge from zinc concentrate has been achieved; however, their recoveries remain relatively low because of dispersion during various procedures. This study thoroughly investigated the distribution behavior and precipitation mechanism of Ga and Ge from zinc pressure leachate into refinery residue. Process mineralogical investigations demonstrated that Ga primarily precipitated through the formation of jarosite, while Ge enrichment was driven by reduction using zinc powder. Controlling the terminal acidity within the range of 6.0–7.0 g/L during pre-neutralization effectively minimized jarosite formation, thereby reducing Ga loss to below 2.0 mg/L. The cementation process was further improved by introducing secondary zinc oxide, followed by zinc powder in a sequential manner. Strategic adjustment of the pH profile—beginning at 1.9–2.1 and concluding at 3.0–3.5—led to residual Ga and Ga concentrations of less than 2.0 mg/L and 1.0 mg/L, respectively. These conditions enabled production trials to achieve recovery efficiencies above 85 % for Ga and over 96 % for Ge.
{"title":"Enhanced gallium and germanium recovery from zinc pressure leachate via zinc powder cementation","authors":"Dongfeng Zhou , Shuai Rao , Xingbin Li , Niangao Teng , Zhigan Deng , Hongyang Cao , Dongxing Wang , Zhiyuan Ma , Zhiqiang Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106549","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106549","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Industrial extraction of Ga and Ge from zinc concentrate has been achieved; however, their recoveries remain relatively low because of dispersion during various procedures. This study thoroughly investigated the distribution behavior and precipitation mechanism of Ga and Ge from zinc pressure leachate into refinery residue. Process mineralogical investigations demonstrated that Ga primarily precipitated through the formation of jarosite, while Ge enrichment was driven by reduction using zinc powder. Controlling the terminal acidity within the range of 6.0–7.0 g/L during pre-neutralization effectively minimized jarosite formation, thereby reducing Ga loss to below 2.0 mg/L. The cementation process was further improved by introducing secondary zinc oxide, followed by zinc powder in a sequential manner. Strategic adjustment of the pH profile—beginning at 1.9–2.1 and concluding at 3.0–3.5—led to residual Ga and Ga concentrations of less than 2.0 mg/L and 1.0 mg/L, respectively. These conditions enabled production trials to achieve recovery efficiencies above 85 % for Ga and over 96 % for Ge.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13193,"journal":{"name":"Hydrometallurgy","volume":"237 ","pages":"Article 106549"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144724945","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 : 2025-07-24DOI: 10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106548
E. Díaz-Gutiérrez , J. Hernández-Saz , José A. Maldonado Calvo , J.M. Gallardo , A. Paúl
The recovery of antimony from side stream is challenging due to impurities like arsenic and bismuth which affect extraction efficiency and product quality. This study examines the individual and combined effects of As and Bi on antimony hydrolysis from eluates produced during copper electrorefining. Synthetic and process eluates were analysed to optimise operating conditions and understand impurity interactions. Hydrolysis experiments across pH values (0.25–0.9) revealed an optimal pH range (0.6–0.7) for maximizing antimony recovery (>90 %) in impurity-free conditions. Arsenic reduced the antimony recovery by 8 %–13 %, destabilising precipitates and forming amorphous phases. Bismuth caused a smaller reduction (3 %–7 %) but had a diminished effect in the presence of As, which dominated the system's chemistry. Process eluates exhibited greater variability, particularly in extraction yields, underscoring the need to validate findings based on synthetic solutions against industrial matrices. This study provides insights into optimizing antimony recovery through impurity management and highlights the value of combining the analyses of synthetic and process eluates.
{"title":"Role of arsenic(V) and bismuth in the recovery of antimony by hydrolysis and precipitation from eluates produced during copper electrorefining","authors":"E. Díaz-Gutiérrez , J. Hernández-Saz , José A. Maldonado Calvo , J.M. Gallardo , A. Paúl","doi":"10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106548","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106548","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The recovery of antimony from side stream is challenging due to impurities like arsenic and bismuth which affect extraction efficiency and product quality. This study examines the individual and combined effects of As and Bi on antimony hydrolysis from eluates produced during copper electrorefining. Synthetic and process eluates were analysed to optimise operating conditions and understand impurity interactions. Hydrolysis experiments across pH values (0.25–0.9) revealed an optimal pH range (0.6–0.7) for maximizing antimony recovery (>90 %) in impurity-free conditions. Arsenic reduced the antimony recovery by 8 %–13 %, destabilising precipitates and forming amorphous phases. Bismuth caused a smaller reduction (3 %–7 %) but had a diminished effect in the presence of As, which dominated the system's chemistry. Process eluates exhibited greater variability, particularly in extraction yields, underscoring the need to validate findings based on synthetic solutions against industrial matrices. This study provides insights into optimizing antimony recovery through impurity management and highlights the value of combining the analyses of synthetic and process eluates.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13193,"journal":{"name":"Hydrometallurgy","volume":"237 ","pages":"Article 106548"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144724946","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 : 2025-07-24DOI: 10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106539
Xinyuan Lan , Rong Liu , Liyan Xue , Minzhong Huang , Meiying Xie , Hongye Wang , Hao Zhang , Fan Yang
The efficient recovery of lithium (Li+) from salt lakes has become a pressing issue for the lithium battery industry. In this study, an electrochemically enhanced extraction system with industrialization potential was developed, which increased the separation efficiency of Li+ by coupling an electric field with ionic liquid extraction. A promising 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium-2-thiophenecarbonyl trifluoroacetone ([C4mim][TTA]) extraction agent was developed. Furthermore, the functionalized ionic liquid (FIL) was dissolved in an ionic liquid mixture to further increase its extraction capacity. The separation performance and mechanisms of Li+ through [C4mim][TTA] liquid–liquid extraction were investigated. The results showed that within a pH range greater than 2, [C4mim][TTA] had a very high separation efficiency for Li+. Additionally, liquid–liquid extraction in solutions simulating the concentrations of Li+, Na+, and K+ found in salt lakes revealed very high Li+ separation coefficients of βLi/K = 3746 and βLi/Na = 1287. Under an applied electric field of 2.4 V, the electrochemically enhanced extraction system achieved separation coefficients of βLi/K = 6678 and βLi/Na = 3068 within 2 h, which represent the highest reported values to date. In this study, a novel electrochemically coupled ionic liquid extraction system with potential for industrialization is proposed.
{"title":"Enhancing Lithium extraction via ionic liquid coupled electrochemical methods","authors":"Xinyuan Lan , Rong Liu , Liyan Xue , Minzhong Huang , Meiying Xie , Hongye Wang , Hao Zhang , Fan Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106539","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106539","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The efficient recovery of lithium (Li<sup>+</sup>) from salt lakes has become a pressing issue for the lithium battery industry. In this study, an electrochemically enhanced extraction system with industrialization potential was developed, which increased the separation efficiency of Li<sup>+</sup> by coupling an electric field with ionic liquid extraction. A promising 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium-2-thiophenecarbonyl trifluoroacetone ([C<sub>4</sub>mim][TTA]) extraction agent was developed. Furthermore, the functionalized ionic liquid (FIL) was dissolved in an ionic liquid mixture to further increase its extraction capacity. The separation performance and mechanisms of Li<sup>+</sup> through [C<sub>4</sub>mim][TTA] liquid–liquid extraction were investigated. The results showed that within a pH range greater than 2, [C<sub>4</sub>mim][TTA] had a very high separation efficiency for Li<sup>+</sup>. Additionally, liquid–liquid extraction in solutions simulating the concentrations of Li<sup>+</sup>, Na<sup>+</sup>, and K<sup>+</sup> found in salt lakes revealed very high Li<sup>+</sup> separation coefficients of β<sub>Li/K</sub> = 3746 and β<sub>Li/Na</sub> = 1287. Under an applied electric field of 2.4 V, the electrochemically enhanced extraction system achieved separation coefficients of β<sub>Li/K</sub> = 6678 and β<sub>Li/Na</sub> = 3068 within 2 h, which represent the highest reported values to date. In this study, a novel electrochemically coupled ionic liquid extraction system with potential for industrialization is proposed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13193,"journal":{"name":"Hydrometallurgy","volume":"237 ","pages":"Article 106539"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144694575","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 : 2025-07-23DOI: 10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106547
Gabriela Costa Caetano , Flávia Corrêa Rodrigues , Indianara Conceição Ostroski , Maria Angélica Simões Dornellas de Barros
Iron is a primary contaminant in the acid-leaching solution during lateritic nickel production. Additionally, the accumulation of pyrometallurgical tailings from conventional nickel ore processing presents a significant challenge for industrial mining operations. This study addresses these issues by utilizing ferronickel slags (refining slag and kiln dust) as alternative neutralizing agents for the precipitation and recovery of iron from sulfuric leaching solutions. A 23 factorial orthogonal experimental design, including two central points and six axial points, was employed to investigate the effects of agent concentrations on iron precipitation and nickel co-precipitation. The results were optimized based on response surface analysis and filtration resistance parameters. Slags and precipitated materials were characterized using XRD and XRF techniques, while initial and final liquors were analyzed via ICP-OES. Due to its high CaO content (58.33 wt%), the slag exhibited a neutralizing capacity comparable to commercial calcium and sodium carbonates. Optimal concentrations of slag (5.14 %) and kiln dust (25 %) achieved approximately 80 % removal of Fe2+/Fe3+, alongside a 46 % increase in Ni2+ recovery from the initial leaching solution. Precipitated iron oxides can be recovered through a reduction step, followed by washing or magnetic separation.
{"title":"Low-cost alternative for iron recovery in lateritic nickel production by using ferronickel refining slag and kiln dust for iron precipitation from acid leachate","authors":"Gabriela Costa Caetano , Flávia Corrêa Rodrigues , Indianara Conceição Ostroski , Maria Angélica Simões Dornellas de Barros","doi":"10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106547","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106547","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Iron is a primary contaminant in the acid-leaching solution during lateritic nickel production. Additionally, the accumulation of pyrometallurgical tailings from conventional nickel ore processing presents a significant challenge for industrial mining operations. This study addresses these issues by utilizing ferronickel slags (refining slag and kiln dust) as alternative neutralizing agents for the precipitation and recovery of iron from sulfuric leaching solutions. A 2<sup>3</sup> factorial orthogonal experimental design, including two central points and six axial points, was employed to investigate the effects of agent concentrations on iron precipitation and nickel co-precipitation. The results were optimized based on response surface analysis and filtration resistance parameters. Slags and precipitated materials were characterized using XRD and XRF techniques, while initial and final liquors were analyzed via ICP-OES. Due to its high CaO content (58.33 wt%), the slag exhibited a neutralizing capacity comparable to commercial calcium and sodium carbonates. Optimal concentrations of slag (5.14 %) and kiln dust (25 %) achieved approximately 80 % removal of Fe<sup>2+</sup>/Fe<sup>3+</sup>, alongside a 46 % increase in Ni<sup>2+</sup> recovery from the initial leaching solution. Precipitated iron oxides can be recovered through a reduction step, followed by washing or magnetic separation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13193,"journal":{"name":"Hydrometallurgy","volume":"237 ","pages":"Article 106547"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144704153","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 : 2025-07-23DOI: 10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106546
Zesen Zhao , Huiquan Li , Chenye Wang , Peng Xing
The recovery of nickel (Ni) and cobalt (Co) from laterite ores has attracted significant attention due to the increasing demand for these metals in electric vehicle (EV) batteries. While the sulfation-roasting-leaching process offers a viable route for extracting Ni and Co from laterite ores, the co-extraction of iron (Fe) remains a major challenge. To address this, the present study investigated the selective extraction of Ni and Co by optimizing equilibrium pH control and introducing stearyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (STAC), a cationic surfactant, during the leaching stage. Controlling the equilibrium pH of the slurry in the absence of STAC improved the selectivity of leaching Ni and Co over Fe. However, this pH adjustment also reduced the extraction of Ni and Co due to their adsorption onto hydroxide precipitates. Remarkably, the addition of STAC significantly enhanced Ni and Co recovery by modifying the surface properties of the leach residues. Mechanistic analysis revealed that STAC increased the zeta potential of the surface of residue particles and reduced particle agglomeration. These changes inhibited the adsorption and co-precipitation of Ni2+ and Co2+ with residues. Under optimized conditions (equilibrium pH 3.5 with 0.1 wt% STAC), the extraction reached 97.7 % for Ni and 97.4 % for Co, while Fe extraction was suppressed to 0.2 %. These results demonstrate a promising strategy for achieving high selectivity and efficiency in Ni/Co recovery from laterite ores, offering potential advantages over conventional hydrometallurgical approaches.
{"title":"Selective and efficient extraction of nickel and cobalt from laterite ores using the sulfation-roasting and leaching-precipitation process with H2O2 and surfactant addition","authors":"Zesen Zhao , Huiquan Li , Chenye Wang , Peng Xing","doi":"10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106546","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hydromet.2025.106546","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The recovery of nickel (Ni) and cobalt (Co) from laterite ores has attracted significant attention due to the increasing demand for these metals in electric vehicle (EV) batteries. While the sulfation-roasting-leaching process offers a viable route for extracting Ni and Co from laterite ores, the co-extraction of iron (Fe) remains a major challenge. To address this, the present study investigated the selective extraction of Ni and Co by optimizing equilibrium pH control and introducing stearyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (STAC), a cationic surfactant, during the leaching stage. Controlling the equilibrium pH of the slurry in the absence of STAC improved the selectivity of leaching Ni and Co over Fe. However, this pH adjustment also reduced the extraction of Ni and Co due to their adsorption onto hydroxide precipitates. Remarkably, the addition of STAC significantly enhanced Ni and Co recovery by modifying the surface properties of the leach residues. Mechanistic analysis revealed that STAC increased the zeta potential of the surface of residue particles and reduced particle agglomeration. These changes inhibited the adsorption and co-precipitation of Ni<sup>2+</sup> and Co<sup>2+</sup> with residues. Under optimized conditions (equilibrium pH 3.5 with 0.1 wt% STAC), the extraction reached 97.7 % for Ni and 97.4 % for Co, while Fe extraction was suppressed to 0.2 %. These results demonstrate a promising strategy for achieving high selectivity and efficiency in Ni/Co recovery from laterite ores, offering potential advantages over conventional hydrometallurgical approaches.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13193,"journal":{"name":"Hydrometallurgy","volume":"237 ","pages":"Article 106546"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144704159","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}
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