Clean and Zero Emission Processes for Chemical Extraction of Critical and Precious Metals with Deep Eutectic Solvents

使用低共熔溶剂化学萃取关键金属和贵金属的清洁零排放工艺

• 批准号: RGPIN-2022-03250
• 负责人: Ghahreman, Ahmad
• 金额: $ 4.66万
• 依托单位: Queen's University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=761108
• 关键词: Clean; Zero; Emission; Processes; Chemical

The conventional methods for chemical extraction of metals have generally been used by the mining industry for the recovery of metals from primary (e.g. ores) and secondary (i.e. end-of-life products) resources. The mineral acids and organic extractants are the common choice of chemicals for metals extraction. The recovery of metals using hydrometallurgy is of major importance with the growth in metal demand, largely due to electrification revolution in our societies. In recent years, a novel medium for metal extraction, known as deep eutectic solvents (DES), has been introduced. DES carry similar properties to ionic liquids but with additional advantages of low cost, far less environmental impact, and easy synthesis processes for their production in large scale in mining and metals extraction operations. Introduced only very recently, DES have found some very interesting applications in metals extraction processes from primary and secondary resources, however a limited literature is available on this topic. Hydrophilic DES can be used for leaching of metals and have great potential to replace mineral acids, and to reduce water consumption in metals extraction processes. Efficient and selective leaching of metals from minerals or wastes is feasible by using DES. However, the kinetics of leaching as well as the physicochemical properties of DES are still limiting their large-scale application. Electrochemical recovery from DES is also possible but deserves further investigation. On the other hand, hydrophobic DES can be used to recover metals from aqueous solutions e.g., for the solvent extraction of metals, hydrophobic DES constitute credible alternative ionic liquids. In this proposal, we aim to explore hydrophilic and hydrophobic DES for the extraction and recovery of metals from primary and secondary sources. In the first part of work, we will focus on the synthesis and characterization of DES and optimize them for the extraction and recovery of metals. The metals of our interest include nickel, cobalt, lithium, rare earths elements, gold and copper. In the later stage, the optimized DES systems will be explored for the extraction and recovery of the said metals from primary and secondary resources. The long-term goals of this research program are to develop robust metals extraction processes based on novel DES systems and build a comprehensive understanding of the chemistry of the process. Within a long-term plan we will define the environmental and economic benefits of the DES systems. During the next five years, we will design and try different DES systems for metals extraction, using the fail-fast design system. The DES metals extraction systems have the strong potential to make a revolution in the way we extract metals from the resource materials, substantially lowering the water consumption and use of toxic reagents. Two Ph.D. students and four Master's students will be trained through this research program.

采矿业通常使用了用于从主要（矿石）和次级（即寿命终止产品）资源中回收金属的常规化学提取方法。矿物酸和有机提取物是金属提取化学物质的常见选择。随着金属需求的增长，使用湿法铝的金属恢复至关重要，这主要是由于我们社会的电气化革命。近年来，已经引入了一种新型的金属提取培养基，称为深电子溶液（DES）。 DES具有与离子液体相似的特性，但具有低成本，环境影响差得多的额外优势以及在采矿和金属提取操作中大规模生产的易于合成过程。 DES直到最近才引入，发现了从主要和次要资源的金属提取过程中提取过程中一些非常有趣的应用，但是有关此主题的文献有限。亲水性DES可用于散步金属，并具有替代矿物酸的巨大潜力，并减少了金属提取过程中的水消耗。通过使用DES，可以从矿物或废物中进行有效和选择性的金属行走是可行的。但是，步行的动力学以及DES的物理特性仍在限制其大规模应用。还可以从DES进行电化学恢复，但值得进一步研究。另一方面，疏水性DES可用于从水溶液中恢复金属，例如，对于金属的溶液提取，疏水性DES构成可靠的替代离子液体。在此提案中，我们旨在探索亲水性和疏水性DES，以提取和从初级和次要来源恢复金属。在工作的第一部分中，我们将重点关注DES的综合和表征，并优化它们以提取和恢复金属。我们感兴趣的金属包括镍，钴，锂，稀土元素，黄金和铜。在后期，将探索优化的DES系统，以从主要和次要资源中提取和回收上述金属。该研究计划的长期目标是基于新型DES系统开发可靠的金属提取过程，并对该过程的化学反应进行全面的理解。在长期计划中，我们将定义DES系统的环境和经济利益。在接下来的五年中，我们将使用故障快速设计系统设计并尝试用于金属提取的不同DES系统。 DES金属提取系统具有强大的潜力，可以通过我们从资源材料中提取金属的方式进行革命，从而大大降低了有毒试剂的用水和使用。两位博士学生和四个硕士学生将通过该研究计划进行培训。