Removal Of Cobalt From Ammonium Chloride Solutions Using A Batch Cell Trough An Electrogenerative Process

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Date
2017-03
Authors
Cheng, Chor Yee
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Publisher
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
An electrogenerative system is applied to remove cobalt from ammonium chloride solution. In this process, a chemical reaction takes place spontaneously where cobalt is reduced at the cathode compartment and zinc is oxidized at the anode compartment without the supply of external energy. The electrogenerative removal of cobalt was conducted in a batch reactor using a three-dimensional electrode: 80 pores per inch (ppi) reticulated vitreous carbon (RVC) as cathode material. Studies of removal of cobalt from ammonium chloride solution were accomplished using ammonium chloride as supporting electrolyte medium. The influence of catholyte and supporting electrolyte concentrations on cobalt recovery were carried out by varying the initial cobalt concentrations and ammonium chloride concentrations respectively. The results showed that 0.50 M of ammonium chloride was the optimum concentration with < 95 % of cobalt being removed from an initial Co(II) concentration of 200 mg L-1 in 4 h of operation. Results obtained showed that RVC serves as a suitable cathode material in the system as a high value of free energy (– 403.89 kJ mole-1) was generated in the electrogenerative process. At optimum conditions, cell performance of 85.6 % with 100 % cobalt recovery was obtained from 200 mg L-1 of Co2+ in 0.5 M NH4Cl. The influence of pH adjustment was examined at pH 7 to improve cobalt recovery. The morphology of cobalt deposited was also observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Use of the electrogenerative system had also successfully demonstrated the feasibility of recovery of co-ions simultaneously in the presence of copper and nickel ions.
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An electrogenerative system is applied to remove , cobalt from ammonium chloride solution
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