Cobalt recovery from sulfate media applying a liquid membrane containing Cyanex 302

Abstract

Cobalt recovery from sulfate solutions was studied by using a liquid membrane containing Cyanex 302. The influence of the pH and the concentrations of cobalt and the extractant on the metal equilibrium distribution was established. Kinetic investigations of the cobalt transfer across a liquid membrane containing Cyanex302 were performed in a rotating film contactor. Sulfuric acid was used as a stripping agent. The results obtained show that cobalt can be successfully recovered from neutral and weakly acidic sulfate solutions. A mathematical model describing the transport of cobalt ions across the liquid membrane was proposed. The local mass transfer coefficients of cobalt ions in the aqueous phases and cobalt-carrier complex in the organic phase were evaluated on the basis of the experimental data obtained at various conditions as well as on the proposed model. © 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.