Cobalt recovery by precipitation: simulation and course

Operator station

Feeding & driving

This panel scrolls independently of the flowsheet.

10 raffinate solutions

Contrasted fictitious analyses, in g/L. Changing the raffinate while running modifies the input; the tanks retain their contents.

R01

Selected power supply composition
Constituent	g/L

Free acid expressed as H₂SO₄. Fe assumed Fe(III). Total sulfates; ionic activities are not calculated.

Flow rate & residence time

Bleeding supplyRaffinate flow (m³/h)Volume N-01 (m³) · before departureVolume of each tank D1 (m³)Volume of each tank D2 (m³)Reaction thermal setpoint (°C)

D1 : 6 h · D2 : 3 h

N-01 · neutralization / purification

Upstream purification active

Modeled removal of Fe/Al and gypsum, depending on pH. No complete industrial process for oxidative elimination of Mn; the sludge comes out separately.

D1 · first debalting

D2 · second debalting

Send product D2 to common filter

Uncheck keeps the precipitate D2 in a separate stock, to compare content and recovery of the main product. Stocks remain retained until transferred.

Setting the selected tank

TankpH setpoint deviation relative to the groupAgitation of this tank (%)65 %Distribution weight of its pump

The maximum flow rate of the group is distributed between six pumps. Zero agitation slows dissolution. Click on a tank in the flowsheet to select it.

Solid/liquid separation

Relative ventilation (%)0 %Flocculant (g/t dry solids)Filter press in serviceFilter capacity (kg dry/h)Filtration pressure (bar)Wash water (L/kg dry)

Drying & conditioning

Dryer in useDryer temperature (°C)Useful power (kW)Target discharge humidity (%)Maximum discharge (kg dry/h)

Motor domain

Thirteen perfectly stirred reactors, initially filled with water: one pretreatment and twelve debalting tanks. Constant volumes and explicit transfers; additions do not change the hydraulic volume. The throughput and inventories give the response delay.

Neutralization in H⁺ equivalents, progressive dissolution of bases, apparent solubilities of hydroxides at reference 25 °C, simplified gypsum and redissolution. Temperature affects the speed of dissolution. The coefficients are not calibrated on a factory.

The inactive fractions of dry reagents are assimilated to inert solids, except those of soda, considered soluble. The Co balance sheet is closed. The complete ion balance, ORP, complex speciation, cobalt carbonates and crystal phases are not resolved. The dryer remains in the drying area, without calcination.

SAIMM · two-stage cobalt and precipitation circuits SAIMM · Mutoshi metallurgical study

Dynamic circuit · continuous power supply

Two debaltings · 6 tanks + 6 tanks

R01 · 10 m³/h

Co introduced cumulative0 kg

Powder produced · dry0 kg

Co content dry—

Co produced/introduced—

Choose a raffinate, check the settings then start.

Liqueur / raffinateRushed to filterSludge / effluentSchematic colors, without mineralogical identification

Evolution of the process

pH at outlet D1 and D2 · changes pass through the tanks depending on the residence time.

Instrumentation & results

Control board

This panel scrolls independently of the settings.

D1-01 · measurements

pH calculated7,00

Temperature25 °C

Reagent pump0 kg/h

Metal	Dissolved g/L	Solid g/L

Circuit indicators

Local Predictive Assistant

Compares three pH D2s with the engine and estimates the need for neutralization. Deterministic, explainable search; no trained AI models. Chemistry remains constrained by balance sheets.

Apply automatic adaptations

Start to analyze the composition in circulation.

Raw cobalt hydroxide

Main product Co(OH)₂ with coprecipitated hydroxides, gypsum, residual reagent and retained salts. Calculated contents, not a commercial certification.

Item	kg produced	% on dry

Precipitation of cobalt hydroxide

Two debaltings · 6 tanks + 6 tanks

Evolution of the process

Cobalt precipitation report

Understand: Recover cobalt by precipitation