Enhanced cementation of Cd2+, Co2+, Ni2+, and Zn2+ on Al from sulfate solutions by activated carbon addition

Abstract

Cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn) are important components of batteries and renewable energy technologies but their recovery from pregnant leach solutions or removal from polluted soil systems and water bodies remain challenging. In this study, we report the removal/recovery of heavy metal ions (Cd2+, Co2+ and Ni2+, and Zn2+) from sulfate solutions by a novel cementation technique using aluminum (Al) and activated carbon (AC) called “AC/Al-cementation”. The results showed ~0% removal/recovery efficiencies with Al only for the four heavy metals but with “AC/Al-cementation”, these values increased to 96%, 61%, 57%, and 45% for Zn2+, Ni2+, Co2+, and Cd2+, respectively. Detailed residue characterizations using SEM-EDX, XPS, and AES showed substantial deposition of heavy metal ions in their elemental forms, indicating that the primary mechanism of removal/recovery was cementation. Moreover, the results identified the critical role of AC as an electron pathway from Al (electron donor) to metal ions (electron acceptors) even though Al was covered with Al2O3. Finally, hydrogen overpotential and the subsequent passivation of cemented heavy metals by Al(OH)3 were important limiting factors and processes affecting the efficiency of “AC/Al-cementation” technique.