COBALT CAKE REPROCESSING METHOD Russian patent published in 1995 - IPC

FIELD: hydrometallurgy. SUBSTANCE: method involves repulping cobalt cake in sulfuric acid solution and obtaining cobalt concentrate; solving cobalt concentrate in chlorohydric acid; conducting vaporization and cooling; subjecting cobalt chloride obtained to crystallization counter-current multiple-stage cleaning till predetermined purity is provided. Prior to effectuating the method, crystallization cleaning line equipment is filled with crystallized cobalt chloride and saturated solutions of cobalt chloride and cobalt electric extraction line equipment is filled with cobalt chloride solution. Used electrolyte of cobalt electric extraction process is subjected to additional saturation with rectified cobalt chloride from crystallization cleaning line. A portion of obtained solution is directed with flow rate equal to that of recycled crystallization mother solutions for final stage of recrystallization of cobalt chloride, the remaining solution is directed for electric extraction of cobalt. Mother solution of the first stage of crystallization or a portion of it containing 10-33% of cobalt of that introduced with solution is directed for repulping of cobalt cake by sulfuric acid, with iron and manganese in the form of hydroxides being preliminarily removed from mother solution by treating it with a portion of cobalt cake at 70-80 C with pH value of 0.8-1.2. EFFECT: increased efficiency in obtaining metal cobalt and cobalt chloride. 2 tbl