P. Oustadakis

Titanium leaching from red mud by diluted sulfuric acid at atmospheric pressure

Laboratory-scale research has focused on the recovery of titanium from red mud, which is obtained from bauxite during the Bayer process for alumina production. The leaching process is based on the extraction of this element with diluted sulfuric acid from red mud under atmospheric conditions and without using any preliminary treatment. Statistical design and analysis of experiments were used, in order to determine the main effects and interactions of the leaching process factors, which were: acid normality, temperature and solid to liquid ratio. The titanium recovery efficiency on the basis of red mud weight reached 64.5%. The characterization of the initial red mud, as well as this of the leached residues was carried out by X-ray diffraction, TG-DTA and scanning electron microscopy.

Hydrometallurgical process for zinc recovery from electric arc furnace dust (EAFD). Part I: Characterization and leaching by diluted sulphuric acid

The present paper is the first of a series of two articles dealing with the development of an integrated process for the recovery of zinc from electric arc furnace dust (EAFD), a hazardous industrial waste generated in the collection of particulate material during steelmaking process via electric arc furnace. Part I presents the EAFD characterization and its leaching process by diluted sulphuric acid, whereas Part II deals with the purification of the leach liquor and the recovery of zinc by solvent extraction/electrowinning. The characterization of the examined electric arc furnace dust was carried out by using granulometry analysis, chemical analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The leaching process was based on the Zn extraction with diluted sulphuric acid from EAFD under atmospheric conditions and without using any preliminary treatment. Statistical design and analysis of experiments were used, in order to determine the main effects and interactions of the leaching process factors, which were: acid normality, temperature and solid to liquid ratio. The zinc recovery efficiency on the basis of EAFD weight reached 80%. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy were used for the characterization of the leached residues.

Hydrometallurgical process for zinc recovery from electric arc furnace dust (EAFD). Part II: Downstream processing and zinc recovery by electrowinning

The characterization and the agitation leaching of electric arc furnace dust (EAFD) by diluted sulphuric acid have been studied in Part I, as a separate article. The aim of the present research work (Part II) is the development of a purification process of the leach liquor for the recovery of high-purity zinc by electrowinning. The proposed hydrometallurgical process consists of the following four (4) unit operations: (1) Removal of iron as easily filterable crystalline basic sulphate salt of the jarosite type, at atmospheric pressure, by chemical precipitation at pH: 3.5 and 95 degrees C. (2) Zinc solvent extraction by Cyanex 272 at pH: 3.5, T: 40 degrees C, with 25% extractant concentration. (3) Stripping of the loaded organic phase by zinc spent electrolyte (62.5 g/L Zn(2+)) at T: 40 degrees C with diluted H(2)SO(4) (3 mol/L). (4) Zinc electrowinning from sulphate solutions (at 38 degrees C) using Al as cathode and Pb as anode. The acidity of the electrolyte was fixed at 180 g/L H(2)SO(4), while the current density was kept constant at 500 A/m(2).

Synthesis of TiO2 nano-powders prepared from purified sulphate leach liquor of red mud

The research work presented in this paper is focused on the development of a purification process of red mud sulphate leach liquor for the recovery of titanium oxide (TiO(2)) nano-powders in the form of anatase. Initially, titanium was extracted over iron and aluminium from the leach liquor by solvent extraction using Cyanex 272 in toluene, at pH: 0.3 and T: 25°C, with 40% extractant concentration. Stripping of the loaded, with titanium, organic phase was carried out by diluted HCl (3 mol/L) at ambient temperature. Finally, the recovery of titanium nano-powder, in the form of anatase, was performed by chemical precipitation at pH: 6 and T: 95°C, using 10 wt% MgO pulp as neutralizing agent. The produced precipitates were characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis (TGA/DTA). Their morphological characteristics and microstructure were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). High grade titanium white precipitate, in the form of anatase, was obtained. Iron concentration in the precipitate did not exceed 0.3%, whereas no aluminium was detected.

Bulk precipitation of nickel and cobalt from sulphate leach liquor by CaO pulp

Abstract The research work in the present paper determined the conditions at which nickel and cobalt can be recovered, as easily filterable precipitates, from leach liquors, which are produced by sulphuric acid leaching of nickel oxide ores at atmospheric pressure. Nickel and cobalt were precipitated as hydroxides at pH = 8·7, using CaO pulp as a neutralising agent, by 99·9 and 99·8% respectively. At this pH value manganese and magnesium, which were contained in the leach liquor, were precipitated, having a concentration of about 2·6 and 4·7% respectively in the final mixed precipitate. Statistical design and analysis of experiments were used in order to determine the main effects and interactions of the precipitation factors, which were the pH value at equilibrium and temperature. The characterisation of the produced mixed precipitate was carried out by X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA), scanning electron microscopy and particle size distribution analyser. The main mineralogical phases of the precipitate after drying at 110°C were nickel hydroxide and bassanite (CaSO4.0·5H2O).

Cyclones and fabric filters dusts from secondary aluminium flue gases: a characterization and leaching study

The present work aims at the characterization and leachability examination of aluminium dusts, generated during the secondary aluminium production from scrap. Two different types of dusts were examined: a cyclone aluminium dust and a fabric filter aluminium dust, derived from the waste gases de-dusting system, produced during the Al scrap meltdown. The characterization of both dusts was carried out using particle size distribution analysis, chemical analysis, X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric/differential thermal analyses. Their microstructure and morphological characteristics were examined by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that the basis of the examined dusts was different, as they consisted of different mixtures of metallic aluminium, salt flux constituents, aluminium oxide and aluminium nitrides. Their behaviour during leaching was determined by the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure test and the EN 12457-2 compliance leaching test. The results revealed that both dusts should be treated as hazardous wastes and in case of landfilling they should be disposed of at appropriate, regulation-prescribed waste dumps, after removing the water-soluble phases, such as chlorides or nitrides.