The dissolution of LiCoO2 (LCO) from spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has been widely studied with organic and inorganic acids. Among these acids, HCl is the one that showed the best results when used at concentrations higher than 4 M. However, its higher cost compared with other acids is disadvantageous. Taking this into account, this work aims to perform a comparative study of the effect of different operational variables such as temperature, reaction time, leaching agent concentration (HCl) and reducing agent concentration (H2O2) on the dissolution efficiency of LCO for the systems HCl and HCl-H2O2 to determine the optimal parameters to achieve a maximum dissolution in minimum time at low temperatures and reagent concentrations. Increasing temperature, time and concentration of the reagents had a positive effect on the dissolution of LCO. When working with HCl 1.8 M, the highest dissolution for LCO, 91.0% was obtained at 348 K for 60 min. Furthermore, a slightly higher oxide dissolution (93.0%) was obtained in a reducing medium at the same temperature in half the time and with a concentration of HCl more than ten times lower. This will allow us to propose an alternative process to the existing ones with economic and ecological advantages.

The kinetics mechanism on the dissolution of metakaolin by hydrofluoric acid has been studied. The effects of temperature, reaction time, and stirring speed have been examined. Experimental results show that reaction rate increases with both temperature and reaction time. The global process of metakaolin dissolution with HF is characterized with an apparent activation energy of 21.096 kcal/mol, which indicates that the reaction rate is mainly controlled by the chemical stage. Experimental data fitted the sequential nucleation and growth model.

Herein is presented the results of a study on the hydrometallurgic extraction and recovery of aluminum and silicon by leaching of kaolinitic clays with HF. The studied extraction parameters were: temperature, reaction time, solid/liquid ratio, concentration, and precipitating agent mass. In the leaching process, mineral dissolutions near 100% were obtained when working at 348 K, solid/liquid ratio 2% w/v, HF 12% v/v, for 120 minutes. The HF leach liquor generated from the dissolution of kaolinitic clays contains H2SiF6and H3AlF6. Studies were conducted to recover the two valuable fluorides as K2SiF6and Na3AlF6by precipitation with alkaline salts from the leach liquor. Phases of precipitated fluorides were identified by XRD and surface morphology by SEM. The purity of the K2SiF6precipitate was 98.8%, whereas for Na3AlF6, it was 89.3%. Also, both synthesized solids are of high commercial value due to their industrial applications.

Lithium (Li) is considered a strategic element whose use has significantly expanded. Its current high demand is due to its use in lithium ion batteries for portable electronic devices, whose manufacture and market are extensively growing every day. These days there is a great concern about the final disposal of these batteries. Therefore, the possibility of developing new methodologies to recycle their components is of great importance, both commercially and environmentally. This paper presents results regarding important operational variables for the dissolution of the lithium and cobalt mixed-oxide (LiCoO2) cathodes from spent lithium ion batteries (LIBs) with hydrofluoric acid. The recovery and synthesis of Co and Li compounds were also investigated. The dissolution parameters studied were: temperature, reaction time, solid-liquid ratio, stirring speed, and concentration of HF. The investigated recovery parameters included: pH, temperature, and time with and without stirring. The final precipitation of lithium fluoride was also examined. The results indicate that an increase in the HF concentration, temperature, and reaction time favors the leaching reaction of the LiCoO2. Dissolutions were close to 60%, at 75 °C and 120 min with a HF concentration of 25% (v/v). The recovery of Co and Li were 98% and 80%, respectively, with purities higher than 94%. Co and Li compounds, such as Co3O4 and LiF, were synthesized. Furthermore, it was possible to almost completely eliminate the F− ions as CaF2.

This work describes the development of a new process for the recovery of Li, Al and Si along with the proposal of a flow sheet for the precipitation of those metals. The developed process is comprised of lepidolite acid digestion with hydrofluoric acid, and the subsequent precipitation of the metals present in the leach liquor. The leaching operational parameters studied were: reaction time, temperature and HF concentration. The experimental results indicate that the optimal conditions to achieve a Li extraction higher than 90% were: solid-liquid ratio, 1.82% (w/v); temperature, 123 °C; HF concentration, 7% (v/v); stirring speed, 330 rpm; and reaction time, 120 min. Al and Si can be recovered as Na3AlF6 and K2SiF6. LiF was separated from the leach liquor during water evaporation, with recovery values of 92%.

Pressure acid leaching was used to extract niobium and tantalum from a ferrocolumbite ore. The leaching was carried out in a pressure reactor using hydrofluoric acid as leachant. Various parameters, such as temperature, reaction time, HF concentration, stirring speed, particle size and solid-to-liquid ratio in the leaching process, were optimized. The reactants and products were characterized by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and specific surface area (BET). Experimental results showed that the maximum extraction of Nb and Ta, 90 and 80% respectively, it was achieved at an HF concentration of 9% v/v, reaction temperature of 220 °C, particle size of − 45 μm, solid-to-liquid ratio of 1.82% w/v and reaction time of 80 min. Crystalline structures, different from those originally present in the ore, were not detected by XRD analysis of the leaching residues.

The effect of different leaching media on the dissolution of ferrocolumbite from the province of San Luis, Argentina, in an autoclave was investigated. The leaching agents used were aqueous solutions of HF-NaF or HF-Na2C2O4.The researched parameters were temperature and different types and concentrations of the leaching media. The obtained results show that the values of Nb and Ta extractions from ferrocolumbite with diluted HF are substantially modified when NaF or Na2C2O4 are added to the leaching medium, and separation of Ta from the other components present in the sample is successfully accomplished while working under certain conditions of temperature and reagent concentrations. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.