Cobalt and Nickel Removal from Zinc Sulfate Electrolyte by Solvent Extraction and Precipitation Techniques

Sphalerite concentrates prepared during processing of Missouri lead ores contain small percentages of cobalt and nickel which adversely affect zinc electrolysis. The Bureau of Mines has evaluated solvent extraction and precipitation techniques to remove and recover cobalt and nickel from zinc sulfate solution prior to zinc electrolysis. Prepared zinc sulfate solutions containing about 190 gpl of zinc and 50 ppm of both cobalt and nickel were treated using various combinations of complexing reagents, solvent, pH, concentration, time, and temperature. The following complex reagents gave the best results a-nitroso-ßnaphthol, ß-nitrosos-a-napthol, 1,2 cyclohexane dione dioxime (nioxime), di-2-pyridyl ketone oxime, and dimethglyoxime. These reagents in suitable solvents lowered the cobalt and nickel levels to