• Resources Recycling
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.3-10
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• 2017

The special properties of silver are often indispensable in the manufacture of advanced materials. Therefore, it is of importance to develop a process to recover silver which is necessary for the production of advanced materials from diverse resources. In this manuscript, the developed processes for the leaching of silver from diverse resources are reviewed. For this purpose, the advantages and disadvantages of using some inorganic acids (nitric and sulfuric acid) and their mixture with other oxidizing agents (ozone, oxygen, hydrogen peroxide and ferric ion) were investigated. Moreover, the leaching of silver with thiourea and thiosulfate was compared over those by inorganic acids in terms of environmental effect.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.23-28
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• 2018

Distribution data of boric acid in water is necessary to develop a hydrometallurgical process for the recovery of boron from primary and secondary resources containing boron. Boric acid exists as $B(OH)_3$ and $B(OH)_4{^-}$ when solution pH is less than 6 and higher than 12, respectively. In the solution pH range of 6-11, condensation reaction between $B(OH)_3$ and $B(OH)_4{^-}$ results in the formation of some polymers. The mole fraction of the boron polymers such as $B_3O_3(OH)_4{^-}$ and $B_4O_5(OH){_4}^{2-}$ is proportional to the concentration of boric acid.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.3-10
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• 2018

Tungsten is a metal with high melting point and used as a raw material for the production of super alloys. Tungsten exists as $WO{_4}^{2-}$ in alkaline solution. As solution pH decreases, polymerization reaction of $WO{_4}^{2-}$ occurs to result in the precipitation of tungstic acid. The hydrometallurgical process for the recovery of tungsten from ores or secondary resources can be classified as acid and alkaline leaching. In selecting a process for the recovery of pure tungsten from secondary resources, the nature and concentration of impurities in the secondary resources and the manufactured tungsten materials should be considered.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.252-261
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• 2022

Cobalt is a vital metal in the modern society because of its applications in lithium-ion batteries, super alloys, hard metals, and catalysts. Further, cobalt is a representative rare metal and is the 30th most abundant element in the Earth's crust. This study reviews the current status of cobalt extraction and recycling processes, along with the trends in its production amount and use. Although cobalt occurs in a wide range of minerals, such as oxides and sulfides of copper and nickel ores, the amounts of cobalt in the minerals are too low to be extracted economically. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) leads cobalt mining, and accounts for 68.9 % of the global cobalt reserves (142,000 tons in 2020). Cobalt is mainly extracted from copper-cobalt and nickel-cobalt concentrates and is occasionally extracted directly from the ore itself by hydro-, pyro-, and electro-metallurgical processes. These smelting methods are essential for developing new recycling processes to extract cobalt from secondary resources. Cobalt is mainly recycled from lithium-ion batteries, spent catalysts, and cobalt alloys. The recycling methods for cobalt also depend on the type of secondary cobalt resource. Major recycling methods from secondary resources are applied in pyro- and hydrometallurgical processes.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.259-264
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• 2023

As the demand for lithium-ion batteries, a key power source in electric vehicles and energy storage systems, continues to increase for achieving global carbon neutrality, there is a growing concern about the environmental impact of disposing of spent batteries. Extensive research is underway to develop efficient recycling methods. While hydrometallurgy and pyrometallurgy methods are commonly used to recover valuable metals from spent cathode materials, they have drawbacks including hazardous waste and complex processes. Hence, alternative recycling methods that are environmentally friendly are being explored. However, recycling spent cathode materials still remains complex and energy-intensive. This study focuses on a novel approach called solid-state synthesis, which aims at regenerating the performance of spent cathode materials. The method offers a simpler process and reduces energy consumption. Optimal heat treatment conditions were identified based on experimental results, contributing to the development of sustainable recycling technologies for lithium-ion batteries.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.30-35
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• 2008

Mixed acidophilic bacteria were approached for leaching of cobalt and lithium from wastes of lithium ion battery industries. The growth substrates for the mixed mesophilic bacteria are elemental sulfur and ferrous ion. Bioleaching of the metal was due to the protonic action of sulfate ion on the metals present in the waste. It was investigated that bioleaching of cobalt was faster than lithium. Bacterial action could leach out about 80 % of cobalt and 20 % of lithium from the solid wastes within 12 days of the experimental period. Higher solid/liquid ratio was found to be detrimental for bacterial growth due to the toxic nature of the metals. At high elemental sulfur concentration, the sulfur powder was observed to be in undissolved form and hence the leaching rate also decreased with increase of sulfur amount.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.2883-2888
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• 2014

Background: Realgar which contains arsenic components has been used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as an anticancer drug. However, neither Realgar nor its formula are soluble in water. As a result, high dose of Realgar has to be administered to achieve an effective blood medicine concentration, and this is associated with adverse side effects. The objective of the present study was to increase the solubility of a formula using hydrometallurgy technology as well as investigating its effects on in vitro and in vivo cell proliferation and apoptosis in Sarcoma-180 cell line. Materials and Methods: Antiproliferative activity of Realgar Bioleaching Solution (RBS) was evaluated by MTT assay. Further, effects of RBS on cell proliferation and apoptosis were studied using flow cytometry and transmission electron microscopy. Kunming mice were administered RBS in vivo, where arsenic specifically targeted solid tumors. Results: The results indicated that RBS extract potently inhibited the tumor growth of Sarcoma-180 cell line in a dose-dependent manner. Flow cytometry and transmission electron microscopy further indicated that RBS significantly induced cell apoptosis through the inhibition of cell cycle pathway in a dose-dependent manner. Further, on RBS administration to mice, arsenic was specifically targeted to solid tumor.s Conclusions: RBS could substitute for traditional Realgar or its formula to work as a potent tool in cancer treatment.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.631-639
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• 2015

Extraction/separation of cobalt by solvent extraction is reviewed. Separation of cobalt using various reagents and also cobalt recovery from scrap using commercial extractant were analyzed. The separation ability for cobalt followed the order of phosphinic > phosphonic > phosphoric acid due to the increasing stabilization of tetrahedral coordination of cobalt complexes with the extractant in the organic phase. Depending upon the solution composition, commercial extractants like Cyanex 272, D2EPHA and PC 88A should primarily be used for commercial extraction processes and also the efficient management of their combination could address various separation issues associated with cobalt bearing scrap.

• Advances in environmental research
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.125-140
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• 2016

The paper is focused on the economic analysis of two hydrometallurgical processes for recovery of yttrium and other rare earth elements (REEs) from fluorescent phosphors of spent lamps. The first process includes leaching with sulphuric acid and precipitation of a mixture of oxalates by oxalic acid, the second one includes leaching with sulphuric acid, solvent extraction with D2EHPA, stripping by acid and recovery of yttrium and traces of other rare earths (REs) by precipitation with oxalic acid. In both cases the REEs were recovered as oxides by calcination of the oxalate salts. The economic analysis was estimated considering the real capacity of the HydroWEEE mobile's plant ($420kg\;batch^{-1}$). For the first flow-sheet the cost of recycling comes to $4.0{\euro}kg^{-1}$, while the revenue from the end-product is around $5.40{\euro}kg^{-1}$. The second process is not profitable, as well as the first one, taking into account the composition of the final oxides: the cost of recycling comes to $5.2{\euro}kg^{-1}$, while the revenue from the end-product is around $3.56{\euro}kg^{-1}$. The process becomes profitable if the final RE oxide mixture is sold for nearly $50{\euro}kg^{-1}$, a value rather far from the current market prices but not so unlikely since could be achieved in the incoming years, considering the significant fluctuations of the Res' market.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.313-316
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• 2002

비철금속 습식 제련용 고효율 장수명의 양극을 개발하기 위해서 산소 과전압이 낮은 $MnO_{2}$를 촉매로 사용하여 반도체 산화물계의 산소선택성 전극을 제조하고 산화물 coating층의 미세구조와 전기화학적 특성을 분석하였다. PVDF : $MnO_{2}$의 함량비플 1 : 1 에서 1 : 40까지 정량적으로 변화시켰고， 용제의 점도에 지배적인 영향을 미치는 DMF의 함량을 각각의 고정된 PVDF : $MnO_{2}$의 함량비에서 변화시켜 용제를 제조하였으며 4% $HNO_{3}$ 용액에 세척된 Pb전극을 1.5 mm/sec 의 속도로 5회 dipping 하였다. PVDF : $MnO_{2}$ = 1 : 6인 경우 PVDF의 양이 증가하고 DMF의 양이 감소할수록 피막층이 두꺼워지고 PVDF : DMF = 4 : 96인 경우 pb 전극의 피막층이 얇기 때문에 박리현상이 일어났으며 이는 산화물 용제의 낮은 점도 때문인 것으로 판단된다. 또한 PVDF : DMF = 10 : 90의 경우는 5회 dipping 하여 약 $150{\mu}m$의 피막층을 형성하였다. PVDF : Mn02의 함량비가 1:1에서 1:6 까지는 DMF의 함량에 무관하게 전극 특성이 나타나지 않았지만 $MnO_{2}$의 양이 상대적으로 증가하면 cycle 이 증가하더라도 거의 일정한 전류 값을 갖고$MnO_2$와 PVDF의 비가 20:1 이상의 조성에서는 균일한 CV 특성을 나타냈다 이는 $MnO_{2}$가 효과적으로 촉매 작용을 한 것으로 판단되며 anodic polarization에 의한 산소 발생 과전압도 약 1.4V 정도로 감소되었다.