Abstract
We present a process to recycle strategic metals, viz. tungsten and cobalt, from a WC-Co hardmetal sludge (WCHS) via oxidation followed by a two-step hydrometallurgical treatment with alkali and acid solutions. The oxidation of WCHS was investigated in the temperature range of 500 to 1000 °C and optimized at 600 °C to transform the maximum WC into an alkali-soluble WO3. The conditions for the selective dissolution of WO3 in stage-I were optimized as follows: 4.0 M NaOH, pulp density of 175 g/L, and temperature of 100 °C for 1 h, yielding maximum efficacy. Subsequently, in the second step, the optimal conditions for cobalt leaching from the alkali-treated residue were established as follows: 2.0 M H2SO4, 25 g/L pulp density, and 75 °C temperature for 30 min. Downstream processing of the obtained metal ions in solutions was also easier, as the only impurity of dicobaltite ions with the Na2WO4 solution was precipitated as Co(OH)3 under atmospheric O2; meanwhile, the CoSO4 solution obtained through the second step of processing can be treated via electrolysis to recover the metallic cobalt. The present process is simpler in operation, and the efficient use of eco-friendly lixiviants eliminates the previously reported disadvantage.
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