Recovery of metals by ion exchange process using chelating resin and sodium dithionite

Author(s)

Botelho Junior, Amilton Barbosa ^[1] ; de Albuquerque Vicente, Andre ^[2] ; Romano Espinosa, Denise Crocce ^[1] ; Soares Tenorio, Jorge Alberto ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Chem Engn, Polytech Sch, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Companhia Brasileira Met & Mineracao, Araxa, MG - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF MATERIALS RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY-JMR&T; v. 8, n. 5, p. 4464-4469, SEP-OCT 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Chelating ion exchange resins can be used to recover metals from nickel laterite leach solution. The main problem is the high presence of iron. In pH above 2.00, iron precipitates and there is co-precipitation of copper and cobalt, which decreases recovery process efficiency. To solve this problem, a conversion of Fe(III) to Fe(II) can be the solution, where Fe(II) will precipitate just at pH 5.00. This reducing process can also increase metals recovery, where ferrous iron occupies less active sites on the resin than ferric iron. However, studies do not evaluate what happens to the resin under this situation. This work aimed to study the copper, nickel and cobalt recovery using chelating ion exchange resin Lewatit TP 207 and reducing process using sodium dithionite 1 mol.L-1. Sodium dithionite was used to convert Fe(III) to Fe(II). The effect of reducing agent on the resin was studied. Three different solutions where prepared to simulate the real nickel laterite leach solution. Batch experiments were performed to study the effect of pH to recover metals and to compare the results with and without the reducing agent. Results showed that metals adsorption increased when the ferric iron was converted to ferrous iron by reducing process. Chelating resin adsorbed more copper and also was selective for this metal at pH 2.50. Nickel and cobalt adsorption were higher at pH 3.50, but the resin was not selective for these metals under this pH. The order of selectivity of chelating resin changed when pH increased. (C) 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/05527-5 - Separation of metals from sulfuric liquor of mining waste using chelating resins
• Grantee: Amilton Barbosa Botelho Junior
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 12/51871-9 - Study Center for Technology in Waste Solid Treatment and Recycling - SCTWSTR
• Grantee: Jorge Alberto Soares Tenório
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 17/06563-8 - INFLUENCE OF REDUCING AGENT ON SULFURIC LIQUOR OF NICKEL LATERITE MINING IN THE ION EXCHANGE PROCESS USING CHELATING
• Grantee: Amilton Barbosa Botelho Junior
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree