Recovery of nickel from strongly acidic bio-ore leachate using a bispicolylamine-based chelating resin

Given the increasing demand for nickel (Ni) in Li-ion battery industry, agromining chain of processes, based on phytomining Ni combined with hydrometallurgy, has potential to form an important source Ni. Currently, plants grown Ni-rich soils (in this case Odontarrhena chalcidica), having hyperaccumulated Ni, are ashed, and is transferred from ash solution by sulfuric acid leaching. This work focuses recovery Ni-sulfate strongly acidic leachate that contains many cations. For purpose, a bispicolylamine-based chelating resin (Dowex M4195) was tested better understand functioning under these conditions. Column experiments were performed model synthetic solutions containing Na-sulfate at pH 2. A set reactions been formulated describe interactions involved used combining transport porous media chemical equilibrium. Excellent agreement between experimental calculated breakthrough curves obtained adjusting only two parameters. The parameters allowed fit sufficient accuracy hyperaccumulator plant O. chalcidica. understanding use Dowex M4195 extraction strong multicomponent achieved, separation shown be promising extracted bio-ores as part process.