Hydrophobic Deep Eutectic Solvent Leaching for Nickel Sulfate Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nickel sulfate production methods generate significant waste and are complex, involving multiple processes such as acid leaching, solvent extraction, and back extraction.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of a hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent and organic acid in an organic phase to leach nickel from nickel ore, followed by back extraction with sulfuric acid to produce nickel sulfate in two simplified steps, reducing waste generation and complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a neutralization method is used to obtain nickel sulfate, then the process is simple, but a large amount of waste is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent recovers valuable metals (nickel, cobalt, manganese, lithium) from the neutralized precipitate that would otherwise be discarded as waste. The precipitate is re-treated with sulfuric acid to dissolve the metals, which are then extracted using organic solvents. This transforms the waste stream into a valuable resource, recovering metals that can be reused while minimizing waste disposal requirements.
2Loss of substance
If a solvent extraction method is used to obtain nickel sulfate, then waste generation is reduced, but the process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the neutralization step with the solvent extraction step into an integrated process. The neutralized precipitate is directly re-treated with sulfuric acid and subjected to solvent extraction without separate intermediate processing steps. This merging of operations simplifies the overall process flow, reduces the number of unit operations, and maintains the environmental benefits of reduced waste generation while improving ease of manufacture.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple extraction steps are performed to achieve high purity nickel sulfate, then product purity is improved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses different organic solvents with specific selectivity characteristics for different metal ions. The first extraction uses an organic solvent that selectively extracts nickel while leaving cobalt, manganese, and lithium in the aqueous phase. Subsequent extractions use solvents with different selectivity profiles to remove remaining impurities. This localized, targeted approach to purification achieves high product purity through a streamlined multi-step process rather than repeated generic extraction steps.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method enhances the leaching rate of nickel, reduces waste production, and produces high-purity nickel sulfate with minimal contamination, while allowing for the reuse of the organic phase and adjustment of leachate viscosity for improved productivity.
Implementation Method 1
a method for leaching nickel into an organic phase includes the step of bringing a nickel ore into contact with an organic phase. The organic phase contains a hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent and an organic acid
Implementation Method 2
The organic phase contains a hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent and an organic acid
Implementation Method 3
obtaining an aqueous phase containing nickel sulfate by performing back extraction on the nickel leachate using sulfuric acid
Implementation Method 4
the hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent includes a hydrogen bond donor and a hydrogen bond acceptor. The hydrogen bond donor is an acidic hydrogen bond donor
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
Provided is a method for leaching nickel from a nickel oxide ore that enables a nickel sulfate production method which is easily carried out with a small amount of waste generation. The method for leaching nickel into an organic phase disclosed here includes the step of bringing a nickel ore into contact with an organic phase. The organic phase contains a hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent including a hydrogen bond donor and a hydrogen bond acceptor, and an organic acid. The hydrogen bond donor is an acidic hydrogen bond donor. The organic acid is a strong acid.