Selective extraction of nickel, cobalt and copper from alkaline glycine leach solution

Abstract

Solvent extraction behaviour of nickel, cobalt and copper from ammonia–glycine alkaline solutions using ketoxime extractant LIX®84-IC was systematically investigated. Extraction kinetics, pH-dependent selectivity, equilibrium isotherms and multistage extraction performance were evaluated using single-metal and multicomponent simulated pregnant leach solutions (PLS). Kinetic studies revealed that copper exhibits significantly faster extraction than nickel and cobalt, and kinetic correlations showed that copper extraction is best described by a pseudo-first-order (PFO) model, while nickel and cobalt follow pseudo-second-order (PSO) behaviour. Extraction isothermal experiments demonstrated stro..