• Resources Recycling
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.45-53
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• 2023

This study discussed the trend and future strategy of adsorption technology R&D to effectively recover ammonia emitted from the livestock fields. A proper ammonia adsorbent should incorporate acidic or hydrogen bonding functional groups on the surface, as well as a high specific surface area and a good surface structure appropriate for ammonia adsorption. Activated carbon and minerals such as zeolite have widely been used as ammonia adsorbents, but their adsorption effects are generally low, so any improvement through surface modification should be necessary. For example, incorporation of metal chloride included in a porous adsorbent can promote ammonia adsorption effectiveness. Recently, new types of adsorbents such as MOFs (Metal-Organic Frameworks) and POPs (Porous Organic Polymers) have been developed and utilized. They have shown very high ammonia adsorption capacity because of adjustable and high specific surface area and porosity. In addition, Prussian Blue exhibited high ammonia adsorption and desorption performance and selectivity. This looks relatively advantageous in relation to the recovery of ammonia from livestock waste discharge. In the future, further research should be made to evaluate ammonia adsorption/desorption efficiency and purity using various adsorbents under conditions suitable for livestock sites. Also, effective pre- and/or post-treatment processes should be integrated to maximize ammonia recovery.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.65-77
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• 2022

A study was conducted in Korea on the leaching behavior and possibility of recovery of vanadium and other valuable metals from domestic vanadium titanomagnetite (VTM) by direct acid leaching. In this study, a VTM concentrate containing 0.8% V₂O₅ was used, and the ratio of magnetite to ilmenite was calculated as 1.9:1 by using the HSC program. The leaching behavior of vanadium from the VTM was similar to that of iron, and it was affected by the concentration of sulfuric acid and temperature. Further, titanium could be leached in the form of TiOSO₄ at a temperature higher than 75℃. To improve the leaching efficiency of V, Fe, and Ti in VTM, reductive sulfuric acid and oxidative sulfuric acid leaching were performed. When Na₂SO₃ was used as a reducing agent, the leaching rate of vanadium was 80% of that in that case of leaching by sulfuric acid. Similarly, the leaching rate of titanium increased from 20% to 50%. When Na₂S₂O₈ was used as an oxidation agent, most of the vanadium was leached, and the main residue found by XRD analysis was ilmenite. In studies on the possibility of recovering valuable metals, the selective extraction of metals is hardly achieved by solvent extraction from oxidation leaching solutions; however, in this study, Cyanex 923, a solvation extractant from reductive leaching solutions, could selectively extract Ti.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.55-61
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• 2020

Selective catalytic reduction (SCR) has been a promising technology to reduce the air pollution caused by nitrogen oxides (NOx) in several industries. The consumption of SCR catalysts increases every year as technology evolves, however those have a limited lifespan and usually end up in landfills after they deactivate. Currently, the most widely used catalyst for and stationary applications is V₂O₅-WO₃/TiO₂ which can contain around 50% wt V₂O₅ and 7-10% wt of WO₃. The vast uses for both vanadium and tungsten and the worldwide interest in recycling methods that allow for the extraction of metals from secondary sources represent the major motivation for this research. The extraction time, pH dependency, extraction concentration studies were carried out using Aliquat 336 in exxol D80 as the extractant. It was determined that to optimize the extraction of both metals 30min of contact time with an organic phase containing 0.5mol/L of Aliquat 336 are needed at a slightly acidic pH (~5.0). In addition, counter McCabe-Thiele studies allowed us to determine that one stage is necessary for the removal of 99% of vanadium while 2 stages are necessary for the extraction of tungsten and counter current simulations proved that the theoretical approach was correct.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.60-67
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• 2019

A valuable metal recovery from waste resources such as spent rechargeable secondary batteries is of critical issues because of a sharp increase in the amount of waste resources. In this context, it is necessary to research not only recycling waste lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), but also reusing valuable metals (e.g., Li, Co, Ni, Mn etc.) recovered from waste LIBs. In particular, the lithium hydroxide ($LiOH{\cdot}xH_2O$), which is of precursors that can be prepared by the recovery of Li in waste LIBs, can be reused as a catalyst, a carbon dioxide absorbent, and again as a precursor for cathode materials of LIB. However, most studies of recycling the waste LIBs have been focused on the preparation of lithium carbonate with a recovery of Li. Herein, we show the preparation of high purity lithium hydroxide powder along with the precipitation process, and the systematic study to find an optimum condition is also carried out. The lithium carbonate, which is recovered from waste LIBs, was used as starting materials for synthesis of lithium hydroxide. The optimum precipitation conditions for the preparation of LiOH were found as follows: based on stirring, reaction temperature $90^{\circ}C$, reaction time 3 hr, precursor ratio 1:1. To synthesize uniform and high purity lithium hydroxide, 2-step precipitation process was additionally performed, and consequently, high purity $LiOH{\cdot}xH_2O$ powder was obtained.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.56-65
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• 2022

Copper is one of the non-ferrous metals used in the electrical/electronic manufacturing industries due to its superior properties particularly the high conductivity and less resistivity. The effluent generated from the surface finishing process of these industries contains higher copper content which gets discharged in to water bodies directly or indirectly. This causes severe environmental pollution and also results in loss of an important valuable metal. To overcome this issue, continuous R & D activities are going on across the globe in adsorption area with the purpose of finding an efficient, low cost and ecofriendly adsorbent. In view of the above, present investigation was made to compare the performance of a plant root (Datura root powder) as a bio-adsorbent to that of the synthetic one (Tulsion T-42) for copper adsorption from such effluent. Experiments were carried out in batch studies to optimize parameters such as adsorbent dose, contact time, pH, feed concentration, etc. Results of the batch experiments indicate that 0.2 g of Datura root powder and 0.1 g of Tulsion T-42 showed 95% copper adsorption from an initial feed/solution of 100 ppm Cu at pH 4 in contact time of 15 and 30 min, respectively. Adsorption data for both the adsorbents were fitted well to the Freundlich isotherm. Experimental results were also validated with the kinetic model, which showed that the adsorption of copper followed pseudo-second order rate expression for the both adsorbents. Overall result demonstrates that the bio-adsorbent tested has a potential applicability for metal recovery from the waste solutions/effluents of metal finishing units. In view of the requirements of commercial viability and minimal environmental damage there from, Datura root powder being an effective material for metal uptake, may prove to be a feasible adsorbent for copper recovery after the necessary scale-up studies.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.44-51
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• 2022

In the steelmaking process using an electric arc furnace (EAF), light-burnt dolomite, which is a flux containing MgO, is used to protect refractory materials and improve desulfurization ability. Furthermore, a recarburizing agent is added to reduce energy consumption via slag foaming and to induce the deoxidation effect. Herein, a waste MgO-C based refractory material was used to achieve the aforementioned effects economically. The waste MgO-C refractory materials contain a significant amount of MgO and graphite components; however, most of these materials are currently discarded instead of being recycled. The mass recycling of waste MgO-C refractory materials would be achievable if their applicability as a flux for steelmaking is proven. Therefore, experiments were performed using a target composition range similar to the commercial EAF slag composition. A pre-melted base slag was prepared by mixing SiO₂, Al₂O₃, and FeO in an alumina crucible and heating at 1450℃ for 1 h or more. Subsequently, a mixed flux #2 (a mixture of light-burnt dolomite, waste MgO-C based refractory material, and limestone) was added to the prepared pre-melted base slag and a melting reaction test was performed. Injecting the pre-melted base slag with the flux facilitates the formation of the target EAF slag. These results were compared with that of mixed flux #1 (a mixture of light-burnt dolomite and limestone), which is a conventional steelmaking flux, and the possibility of replacement was evaluated. To obtain a reliable evaluation, characterization techniques like X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry were used, and slag foam height, slag basicity, and Fe recovery were calculated.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.50-59
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• 2023

The amount of dust generated during the dissolution of scrap in an electric arc furnace is approximately 1.5% of the scrap metal input, and it is primarily collected in a bag filter. Electric arc furnace dust primarily consists of zinc and ion. The processing of zinc starts with its conversion into pellet form by the addition of a carbon-based reducing agent(coke, anthracite) and limestone (C/S control). These pellets then undergo reduction, volatilization, and re-oxidation in rotary kiln or RHF reactor to recover crude zinc oxide (60%w/w). Next, iron is discharged from the electric arc furnace dust as a solid called Fe clinker (secondary by-product of the Fe-base). Several methods are then used to treat the Fe clinker, which vary depending on the country, including landfilling and recycling (e.g., subbase course material, aggregate for concrete, Fe-source for cement manufacturing). However, landfilling has several drawbacks, including environmental pollution due to leaching, high landfill costs, and wastage of iron resources. To improve Fe recovery in the clinker, we pulverized it into optimal -sized particles and employed specific gravity and magnetic force selection methods to isolate this metal. A carbon-based reducing agent and a binding material were added to the separated coarse powder (>10㎛) to prepare briquette clinker. A small amount (1-3%w/w) of the briquette clinker was charged with the scrap in an electric arc furnace to evaluate its feasibility as an additives (carbonaceous material, heat-generating material, and Fe source).