Enhanced Cementation of Co2+ and Ni2+ from Sulfate and Chloride Solutions Using Aluminum as an Electron Donor and Conductive Particles as an Electron Pathway

Cobalt and nickel have become important strategic resources because they are widely used for renewable energy technologies rechargeable battery production. Cementation, an electrochemical deposition of noble metal ions using a less as electron donor, is option to recover Co Ni from dilute aqueous solutions these ions. In this study, cementation experiments recovering Co2+ Ni2+ sulfate chloride (pH = 4) were conducted at 298 K Al powder the effects additives such activated carbon (AC), TiO2, SiO2 powders on efficiency investigated. Without additives, efficiencies almost zero in both solutions, mainly presence aluminum oxide layer (Al2O3) surface, which inhibits transfer Addition nonconductor (SiO2) did not affect while addition (semi)conductors AC or TiO2 enhanced significantly. The results surface analysis (Auger spectroscopy) products when TiO2/Al mixture showed that deposited particles attached surface. This result suggests conductors act pathway Ni2+, even covered