Recovery of Zn (II), Mn (II), Cd (II) and Ni (II) from the unsorted spent batteries using solvent extraction, electrodeposition and precipitation methods

Abstract

Highlights A sulfuric acid leaching process is applied on unsorted spent batteries. The pregnant leach solution (PLS) contains Zn, Mn, Cd, Ni and Co. Zn and Cd are separated from PLS using solvent extraction and electrodeposition. Mn and Ni are recovered using chemical precipitation as metal carbonates. AbstractThis investigation presents the development of a waste batteries recycling technology, that could lead to the minimization of waste discharged and contamination problems and to the depletion of natural resources. This study mainly focused on the recovery of metals from a pregnant leach solution (PLS) obtained from a sulphuric leaching process applied to unsorted spent batteries. The PLS mainly contains Zn, Mn, Cd, Ni and Co. Cyanex 272 (di-2,4,4trimethylpentyl phosphinic acid) was used to selectively recover Zn from the mixed solution.The Zn-Cyanex 272 was stripped and electrodeposited in metallic form and approximately 134 kg of Zn were recovered. Cd and Mn were co-extracted in the organic solvent D2EHPA (2ethylhexylphosphonic acid) from the Zn-depleted solution and they were stripped using H 2 SO 4 .Consequently, Cd was selectively electrodeposited from a sulphate-stripped solution where the amount of Cd recovered was equal to 21.6 kg Cd per ton of waste battery powder. Residual Mn was recovered in the carbonate form by the addition of Na 2 CO 3 (238 kg of Mn t -1 of waste battery powder). In the following step, Cyanex 272 was used to remove Co and other impurities from the Zn-Cd-Mn depleted solution, while Ni was not extracted. Finally, Ni was precipitated from the pure NiSO 4 solution with Na 2 CO 3 and 23.8 kg of Ni were recovered per ton of waste battery powder. The costs of the process develop to recover metals (including only chemical costs and energy consumption) are estimated at $814 t -1 of battery powder, while the metal revenues obtained are estimated at $2,132 t -1 of battery powder. The chemical cost /metal revenue ratio is lower than 50%, which indicates that the process is feasible.

Recovery of Cobalt from Spent Lithium-Ion Mobile Phone Batteries Using Liquid–Liquid Extraction

“…This work focused on the recovery of cobalt by solvent extraction, measuring the effect of parameters such as time, pH, and concentration of the extractant. Liquid-liquid extraction was used because of its flexibility, high selectivity, and lower energy requirements in comparison with pyrometallurgic methods [26]. The number of extraction and stripping stages required to perform the separation in a continuous scheme was estimated using the McCabe-Thiele method.…”

Removal of cadmium(II) cations from an aqueous solution with aminothiourea chitosan strengthened magnetic biochar

“…5 Until now, many technologies have been adopted for Cd(II) decontamination from wastewater discharge. [6][7][8][9][10][11][12] Among these technologies, adsorption is the most used method because of its flexibility in design and operation, efficiency, and economy in practice. 13 Consequently, the use of an economical adsorbent is a crucial issue for the development of the adsorption method.…”

Evolution of Environmentally Friendly Strategies for Metal Extraction

“…The treatment method should not produce toxic chemical sludge such that disposal remains ecofriendly and cost-effective [215]. Several examples on the use of precipitating agents to extract various metals have been reported [216][217][218][219].…”