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Separations
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Advanced Methods for Recovery of Valuable Metals from Waste
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Advanced Methods for Recovery of Valuable Metals from Waste

A special issue of Separations (ISSN 2297-8739). This special issue belongs to the section "Purification Technology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 October 2023) | Viewed by 9099

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Yonggang Wei

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Metallurgical and Energy Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650093, China
Interests: recovery and comprehensive utilization of secondary metallurgical resources; advanced technology for green metallurgy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Lei Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
Interests: recovery and comprehensive utilization of secondary metallurgical resources

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Currently, resource recovery has evolved into one of the four pillars that support improved resource management through the prevention of waste and the reuse, recycling, and recovery of wastes to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. With the rapidly growing consumption of global metal, large amounts of metal-containing waste (slag, sludge, tailing, scrap metal, etc.) are simultaneously generated and need management. Recovery of the valuable metals from industrial waste or secondary resources is of great significance to alleviate the resource scarcity, reduce the resource waste, and relieve environmental burdens. In recent decades, many efforts have been made to develop novel recovery processes of valuable metals from waste. However, achieving high recovery rates and economic feasibility is limited by the low content of valuable metals and the complex phase composition in the waste. Therefore, further research is needed on the development of advanced methods for recovering valuable metals.

For this Special Issue, we are inviting high-quality original articles focusing both on state-of-the-art approaches and newly developed methods for the recovery of valuable metals from waste. Some areas of interests will cover, but are not limited to:

  • Extraction of valuable metals from waste.
  • Development of advanced methods and novel processes for metal recovery.
  • Optimization of existing processes to increase efficiency and the recovery rate.
  • Comprehensive utilization of recovered metals.
  • Thermodynamic and kinetic studies of the recovery process.

Prof. Dr. Yonggang Wei
Dr. Lei Li
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Separations is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • waste recovery
  • valuable metals
  • advanced methods
  • extraction technologies
  • comprehensive utilization
  • extractive metallurgy
  • environmental issues
  • thermodynamics and kinetics

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 4138 KiB  
Article
Clean and Efficient Recovery of Lithium from Al-Li Alloys via Vacuum Fractional Condensation
by Lei Shi, Zou Peng, Ping Ning, Xin Sun, Kai Li, Huan Zhang and Tao Qu
Separations 2023, 10(7), 374; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations10070374 - 26 Jun 2023
Viewed by 1030
Abstract
Al-Li alloys are ideal structural materials for the aerospace industry. However, an increasing number of Al-Li alloys have reached the end of their service life and must be recycled. Unfortunately, when vacuum distillation is used to separate Al-Li alloys, metallic lithium is difficult [...] Read more.
Al-Li alloys are ideal structural materials for the aerospace industry. However, an increasing number of Al-Li alloys have reached the end of their service life and must be recycled. Unfortunately, when vacuum distillation is used to separate Al-Li alloys, metallic lithium is difficult to condense and collect. Therefore, theoretical and experimental research on lithium condensation conditions under vacuum and vacuum distillation and condensation of Al-Li alloy to prepare metallic lithium were carried out. The results show that the optimal condensation temperature range for lithium is between 523 and 560 K. More than 99.5% metallic lithium and more than 99.97% aluminum were obtained from the Al-7.87%wt Li alloy through vacuum distillation condensation. The direct yield of lithium was above 80%. This paper, therefore, provides a new and improved method for the preparation of metallic lithium. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Methods for Recovery of Valuable Metals from Waste)
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13 pages, 4522 KiB  
Article
Separation of Zinc from Zinc Ferrite by Magnetization Roasting and Ammonia Leaching
by Zeqiang Xie, Tao Jiang, Yufeng Guo, Shuai Wang, Feng Chen, Lingzhi Yang and Ganghua Fu
Separations 2023, 10(5), 299; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations10050299 - 08 May 2023
Viewed by 1061
Abstract
Zinc ferrite can be found in zinc-bearing dust in ironmaking and steelmaking. It is difficult to be recovered due to its stable properties. The magnetization roasting and ammonia leaching method were used to separate iron and zinc from zinc ferrite in this study. [...] Read more.
Zinc ferrite can be found in zinc-bearing dust in ironmaking and steelmaking. It is difficult to be recovered due to its stable properties. The magnetization roasting and ammonia leaching method were used to separate iron and zinc from zinc ferrite in this study. Thermodynamic analysis showed that the key to the selective reduction of zinc ferrite to zinc oxide and ferric oxide is to control the appropriate temperature and atmosphere. The influences of the selective reduction roasting process of zinc ferrite on the conversion rate, phase change, and microevolution behavior were investigated. The microstructure analysis showed that the distribution area of iron was mainly gray, and the distribution area of zinc was mainly white grid lines. The zinc content in the white area was higher than that in the gray area. With the increase in temperature and PCO, the white area expanded and the migration of zinc and iron was accelerated, but the iron in the white area still existed. The ammonia leaching of the magnetization-roasted product showed that a zinc leaching rate of 78.12% was achieved under the following conditions: the roasting atmosphere of PCO/P(CO+CO2) = 25%, the roasting temperature of 750 °C, roasting duration for 45 min, n(NH3-H2O):n(NH4Cl) = 1:1, the solid–liquid ratio of 40 g/L, leachate concentration of 6 mol/L, leaching duration of 90 min, the leaching temperature of 50 °C, and the stirring rate of 200 rpm. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Methods for Recovery of Valuable Metals from Waste)
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18 pages, 3931 KiB  
Article
Experimental Study on Synergistic Extraction for Separating Manganese and Iron from Waste Ternary Battery Leaching Solution
by Xuebin Peng, Lei Shi, Zhen Yang, Lin Lin and Tao Qu
Separations 2023, 10(4), 265; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations10040265 - 19 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1090
Abstract
In this paper, the key factors and the mechanism of the extraction of iron and manganese from the sulfuric acid leaching solution of waste ternary lithium-ion batteries were studied by combining P204 and N235 extractors. The experimental results showed that the optimal organic [...] Read more.
In this paper, the key factors and the mechanism of the extraction of iron and manganese from the sulfuric acid leaching solution of waste ternary lithium-ion batteries were studied by combining P204 and N235 extractors. The experimental results showed that the optimal organic phase composition was 25% P204 + 15% N235 + 60% sulfonated kerosene, and the optimal pH of the pre-extraction solution was in the range of 3.0–3.5. Under the conditions of an extraction temperature of 25–35 °C and an extraction ratio of O/A = 1/1 and after mixing for 5 min, the removal rate of Mn and Fe exceeded 99%. Under the same extraction conditions, the extraction effect of the P204-N235 composite extractant on Mn and Fe was better than that of P204 alone. logD-log[P204] showed that the formulas of the Mn and Fe extracts were MnR2(HR) and FeR2(HR), respectively. The logD-pH diagram showed that only one free H+ was released for each metal ion during extraction, and extraction occurred via a cation exchange reaction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Methods for Recovery of Valuable Metals from Waste)
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16 pages, 8075 KiB  
Article
Study on Pyrolysis Pretreatment Characteristics of Spent Lithium-Ion Batteries
by Hao Wang, Cuiping Liu, Guorui Qu, Shiwei Zhou, Bo Li and Yonggang Wei
Separations 2023, 10(4), 259; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations10040259 - 17 Apr 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1890
Abstract
In recent years, the rapid development of the new energy vehicle industry has led to an increase in the production of used lithium-ion batteries. The recycling of waste lithium-ion batteries is expected to alleviate the shortage of valuable metals in battery materials. The [...] Read more.
In recent years, the rapid development of the new energy vehicle industry has led to an increase in the production of used lithium-ion batteries. The recycling of waste lithium-ion batteries is expected to alleviate the shortage of valuable metals in battery materials. The electrode material is adhered to the collector by a viscous organic binder such as PVDF. A key step in recycling is to separate the anode material and aluminum foil from the waste lithium batteries to obtain materials rich in valuable metals. Compared with chemical dissolution and decomposition, pyrolysis pretreatment is a simple and feasible method. By reducing the binding force between the binder and the positive active substance at a high temperature, organic matter can be eliminated by thermal decomposition at a high temperature. At the same time, the organic component of PVDF has a high calorific value, and the energy can be recycled and reused, which can save energy. The pyrolysis process and pyrolysis behavior of spent LIBs materials were studied in this paper. FWO, Friedman and KAS conversion methods were spent to compare the pyrolysis kinetics of positive electrode materials. Thermogravimetric analysis shows that the cathode material is decomposed into three stages with mass losses of 1.7%, 1.2% and 3.3%, respectively. The activation energy (Eα) calculated by the three model-free methods is best fitted by the FWO method. During the pyrolysis process, the concentration of F decreases gradually with the increase in temperature, and the concentrations of Ni, Mn, Co and Li remain stable. Most of the harmful element (F) in spent LIBs is converted into HF gas, which can be adsorbed by alkaline solution. The analysis of pyrolysis kinetics and pyrolysis products is of great significance for large-scale pretreatment of spent lithium-ion batteries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Methods for Recovery of Valuable Metals from Waste)
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19 pages, 6815 KiB  
Article
Study on the Removal of Chloride Ions in an Acidic Solution of Zinc Smelting by Green Method
by Zhiwen Xiao, Jing Li, Guang Fu, Xinpei Li, Likun Gu, Chaobo Zhang, Te Zhang, Weibo Yin, Dianchuan Liu and Junchang Liu
Separations 2023, 10(3), 195; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations10030195 - 13 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1662
Abstract
In the process of zinc smelting, when the chloride ion concentration exceeds 100 mg/L, it continuously corrodes the electrode plate and affects the stability of the electrodeposition process. Therefore, the chloride concentration must be reduced below 100 mg/L. Compared with other methods used [...] Read more.
In the process of zinc smelting, when the chloride ion concentration exceeds 100 mg/L, it continuously corrodes the electrode plate and affects the stability of the electrodeposition process. Therefore, the chloride concentration must be reduced below 100 mg/L. Compared with other methods used to control the reactions of Cu(II), the use of the copper slag produced in zinc smelting without other additives does not cause reverse dissolution; to reduce the cost, turn the waste into treasure, and protect the environment, research was carried out on chloride removal by the copper slag via a synergistic valence control process. In this study, the influencing factors, such as the amount of copper slag, the reaction time, and reaction temperature, were systematically investigated. The results showed that the optimum dechlorination conditions were as follows: the copper: copper(II): chloride molar ratio was 6:5:1, the reaction time was 60 min, and the reaction temperature was 20 °C. The chloride ion concentration was decreased from 1.6 g/L to 0.05 g/L, the dechlorination efficiency was 96.875%, and the residual chloride ion concentration was less than 100 mg/L, which provides a basis for industrial use. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Methods for Recovery of Valuable Metals from Waste)
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14 pages, 4045 KiB  
Article
Kinetics of Ni and Co Recovery via Oxygen-Enriched Pressure Leaching from Waste Lithium-Ion Batteries
by Xuebin Peng, Lei Shi, Tao Qu, Zheng Yang, Lin Lin, Gang Xie and Baoqiang Xu
Separations 2023, 10(2), 64; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations10020064 - 17 Jan 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1761
Abstract
In the process of the comprehensive recovery and utilization of discarded lithium-ion batteries via acid leaching, a large number of NiS and CoS mixed materials are produced. To improve the metal recovery rate, the kinetics and rate-determining step of the oxygen-rich pressurized acid [...] Read more.
In the process of the comprehensive recovery and utilization of discarded lithium-ion batteries via acid leaching, a large number of NiS and CoS mixed materials are produced. To improve the metal recovery rate, the kinetics and rate-determining step of the oxygen-rich pressurized acid leaching of Ni and Co were investigated. The results showed that the leaching rates of Ni and Co were greater than 99% under the following conditions: sulfuric acid (leaching agent) concentration of 95 g/L, liquid-to-solid ratio of 6:1, leaching time of 120 min, temperature of 110 °C, stirring speed of 400 r/min, 90% oxygen-rich atmosphere, and pressure of 1.2 MPa. The leaching of Ni and Co was described by the shrinking unreacted core model, and the leaching rates of Ni and Co conformed to the kinetic equation 1 − (1 − x)1/3 = k·t. The apparent activation energies of the Ni and Co leaching reactions were 50.87 and 45.6 kJ/mol, respectively, and the leaching process was found to be controlled by the chemical reaction at the interface. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Methods for Recovery of Valuable Metals from Waste)
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