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Global Outlook on the Availability of Critical Metals and Recycling Prospects from Rechargeable Batteries
Published in Abhilash, Ata Akcil, Critical and Rare Earth Elements, 2019
Pratima Meshram, B.D. Pandey, Abhilash
The common cobalt-bearing minerals found in economic deposits include erythrite, skutterudite, cobaltite, linnaeite, carrollite, and asbolite (asbolane). Cobalt is also found in chemical compounds often associated with sulfur and arsenic (Table 2.2). Though some cobalt is produced from metallic-lustered ores like cobaltite (CoAsS) and linnaeite (Co3S4), it is industrially produced as a byproduct of copper, nickel, and lead. While nickel laterites are mostly processed directly, other Co-bearing ores are beneficiated (by flotation or gravity methods) to produce concentrates, which are hydrometallurgically processed to extract cobalt (Shedd, 2004). Cobalt present as a byproduct of copper is concentrated (sulfides) and converted to oxides by roasting. The oxide is leached in sulfuric acid dissolving metals more reactive than copper, particularly Fe, Co, and Ni as sulfates. After removing iron as iron oxide, cobalt is precipitated as Co(OH)3, which is roasted and then reduced to cobalt metal with charcoal or hydrogen gas (Panayotova and Panayotov, 2014).
A Comprehensive Review on Cobalt Bioleaching from Primary and Tailings Sources
Published in Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy Review, 2023
Alex Kwasi Saim, Francis Kwaku Darteh
Cobalt is extracted from a number of primary sulfide minerals, mainly carrollite (CuCo2S4), linnaeite (Co3S4) and cattierite (CoS2). Carrollite has been used in most of the studies to date on the bioleaching of these primary Co sulfide deposits. To offer proof of the interaction pattern between carrollite and microorganisms, bioleaching of high purity carrollite minerals with a mesophilic bacteria consortium was monitored using SEM/EDS analysis (Nkulu et al. 2015; Nkulu, Gaydardzhiev, and Mwema 2013). SEM examinations of pure carrollite revealed a gradual bacteria colonization of the mineral surface with time in the Co bioleaching process. However, it is revealed that the oxidation product layer (mainly composed of jarosite) formed on the surface of carrollite during bioleaching gradually increases, and the layer thickness can reach over 6 μm (Liu et al. 2017). According to Chen et al., cooperative bioleaching, including oxidation, generated by the bacteria adhered to the surface and Fe3+ re-oxidized by bacteria in suspension, was thought to be the driving force behind carrollite dissolution. From their study, 96.51% of Co was recovered from a low grade refractory carrollite after direct oxidation for 6 days at a pulp density of 10% (Chen et al. 2013). Activated carbon and surfactants have been shown to greatly increase the dissolution rate of carrollite, either independently or in combination (Liu et al. 2014, 2015a). Given the widespread presence of carrollite in key areas such as the Katanga polymetallic deposits, there is a significant motivation to make bioleaching a financially viable alternative for Co extraction. However, the bioleaching processes of carrollite must be better understood since the rate and degree of carrollite bioleaching can be crucial in Co extraction.