Ionic strength dependence of heavy metal tartrate complex stabilities

Green separation of lanthanum, cerium and nickel from waste nickel metal hydride battery

In a circular economy context, there is a growing need for more sustainable waste management options to recover elements from end-of-life materials. These "secondary ores" represent a source of critical elements that are often present in higher concentration compared to their primary ore. In this work, the recovery of lanthanum (La) from waste nickel metal hydride battery (NiMH) leachate is investigated using an aqueous biphasic system (ABS) process based on a pluronic triblock copolymer (L35). An initial screening is performed to determine the influence of the ABS phase forming salt anion and alizarin red extractant on the La extraction efficiency and selectivity. From these results, a three-step ABS process is developed, varying only the nature of the salt and requiring no additional extractant. In a first step, the ABS composed of L35 + thiocyanate ammoniun + H₂O efficiently extracts iron, manganese, and cobalt leaving La, cerium, and Ni in solution. Nickel is subsequently recovered by precipitation using dimethylglyoxime. Finally, La is separated from cerium using the L35 + ammonium nitrate + H₂O ABS, recovering 62 g of La with 94% purity per kilogram of black mass of NiMH battery. This work highlights the applicability of ABS for the treatment of raw and complex matrices, potentially allowing for a greener hydrometallurgical treatment of wastes.

Spectrophotometric study of competitive complexation equilibria involving overlapped spectral responding species: Determination of the stability constant of bismuth-pyrophosphate complex

Spectrophotometric study of competitive complex formation equilibria involving overlapped spectral responding species applying a simple and versatile algorithm was carried out. The algorithm involves multivariable regression for calculation of equilibrium concentrations from multiwavelength data and mass action law for the stability constant calculation. The used regression functions are part of common statistical software. Stability constants and complex stoichiometry of competing equilibria were simultaneously determined. The species concentration profiles at several spectral overlapping and α-coefficient of competing reaction were obtained. Non-absorbing bismuth — pyrophosphate (PPh) system was studied as a competitive reaction of bismuth — 4-(2-Pyridylazo) resorcinol (PAR) complex. The formation of Bi-PPh complex with 1:1 stoichiometry was proved in the studied concentration region (CBi = 1×10−5 mol L−1; CPPh = 5×10−6 − 1×10−4 mol L−1). The stability constant of the complex at pH 1 and µ = 1.0 have been determined: logβ = 4.2±0.2.

Flowery Ni Microcrystals Consisting of Star-shaped Nanorods: Facile Synthesis, Formation Mechanism and Magnetic Properties

Flowerlike Ni microcrystals composed of star-shaped Ni nanorods with a diameter of ~200 nm were fabricated by a facile chemical reduction process, in which ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid sodium (EDTA) was used as complexant to assist in the formation of the flowery shape of the sample. The products were characterized by X-ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and superconducting quantum interference device magnetometer. Scanning electron microscopy images indicated the typical size of the flowery Ni microcrystals was 2–3 μm and the length of the star-shaped Ni nanorods was in the hundreds of nanometers up to micron scale. The X-ray diffraction pattern showed the Ni microcrystals were present in the face-centred cubic phase and magnetic measurement results demonstrated the greatly enhanced coercivity of the sample (168.5 Oe) at room temperature. Based on the evolution of the structure and the morphology of products with increasing reaction time, a possible formation mechanism was proposed to illustrate the growth of the flower-like Ni architecture.