Purification of nickel sulfate using chelating ion exchangers and weak-base anion exchangers

Abstract

Different types of chelating ion exchangers and weak-base anion exchangers were used in nickel sulfate purification from mixtures with Cu(II), Zn(H), Mn(II), Fe(III) by frontal analysis. Of the ion exchangers examined, the most suitable for selective separation of Cu(II) from NiSO, proved to be the amidoxine ion exchanger — Duolite ES-346, the polyethylenimine exchanger — Diaion CR-40, the macroreticular ion exchanger of the amino-acid type — Lewatit TP-207, and the polyfunctional weak-base anion exchanger — Merck II. Nickel sulfate is easily purified from Fe(III) on the amidoxine ion exchanger Duolite ES-346. The phosphonic ion exchanger Duolite ES-63 proved to be the most effective in Zn(H), Mn(II) and also FeIIII) separation. An amount of 10 kg of NiSO, was purified on 11 of this exchanger (in one run) under the optimal conditions, decreasing the content of copper and iron to < 0.0001%,, and zinc and manganese to < 0.001%.