Metals Utilization And Recovery Technological Studies Of The Ocean Cobalt-rich Crust

The leaching solution of alloy powder from reductive smelting ocean cobalt-rich crust contains Cu, Mn, Ni, Co and Zn, etc.. Chemical precipitation process has disadvantages such as low selectivity, complicated dissolution and precipitation operations, low products purity, and high cost. Hence its application was limited, and it’s significant to research how to improve recovery of valuable metals from ocean cobalt-rich crusts, determine suitable process flow, save energy and reduce emission.The solution was separated by solvent extraction, then products of Cu, Mn, Co, Ni could be obtained in this research. The solvent extraction order of valuable metals was detemined by tests:Cu was firstly extracted by XD5460from the leaching solution, and qualified electrodeposited copper solution could be got; then Mn was extracted by P204from the copper raffinate to obtain qualified solution for making Mn products; and Co was thirdly extracted by N235from the manganese raffinate, and qualified cobalt solution could be got for making Co products; Ni was extracted by P204from the cobalt raffinate at last to get qualified electrodeposited nickel solution, and the final raffinate was returned to the alloy powder leaching process. The recoveries of Cu, Mn, Co and Ni from solvent extraction process are99.27%,99.66%,95.61%and98.66%, respectively. It’s obvious that there’s no waste liquid in the whole process and the process has technological advantages such as short process, high recovery of valuable metals, high efficiency and environmental protection without Three Wastes.