Chemical Reduction of Fe(III) in Nickel Lateritic Wastewater to Recover Metals by Ion Exchange

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Botelho, Amilton Barbosa, Jr. ; Jimenez Correa, Monica M. ; Romano Espinosa, Denise Crocce ; Soares Tenorio, Jorge Alberto ; Zhang, L ; Drelich, JW ; Neelameggham, NR ; Guillen, DP ; Haque, N ; Zhu, J ; Sun, Z ; Wang, T ; Howarter, JA ; Tesfaye, F ; Ikhmayies, S ; Olivetti, E ; Kennedy, MW

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ENERGY TECHNOLOGY 2017: CARBON DIOXIDE MANAGEMENT AND OTHER TECHNOLOGIES; v. N/A, p. 6-pg., 2017-01-01.

Abstract

Wastewater from nickel lateritic process still has valuable metals that could be recovered. Using an ion exchange to recovery these metals, the iron becomes a problem due to the fact that it precipitate at pH 2. The aim of this research was to make iron soluble by reducing Fe+3 to Fe+2. A synthetic solution was prepared with sulfate ferric. The reducing agent sodium dithionite was used and the potential was varied (initial potential: 700, 600, 500, 450 e 400 mV) using as a reference the Pourbaix diagram for iron created by HydroMedusa software. The pH was ranged between 0.5 and 2.5, the reducing agent's concentration was 0.5 M and the reaction time ranged between 30 and 120 min at room temperature. The ferric iron and total iron concentration were verified using a spectrophotometer with 5-sulfosalicylic acid (SSA) to determine Fe(III) and ammonia to determine Fe(II) and Fe(III) in 500 and 425 nm, respectively. The results indicated that total reduction was at 400 mV in any pH between 0.5 and 2, but less than 40% in pH 2.5 at this potential value. (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