Determination of major and trace elements in iron-nickel-copper-cobalt ore reference materials using k0-NAA

Worldwide research on extraction and recovery of cobalt through bibliometric analysis: a review

Cobalt is a strategic and critical mineral whose demand is expected to grow rapidly. This study aims to provide a comprehensive summary of cobalt extraction and recovery research from 2012 to 2021 in the form of bibliometric analysis. The work was based on the Science Citation Index Expanded (Web of Science) and carried out using the InCites of Clarivate for bibliometric data analysis and the software VOSviewer for science mapping. By analyzing a dataset of 4967 publications, the most influential journals, countries, authors, institutions, and publications were identified, and the keyword co-occurrence networks were mapped. The China mainland produced the most publications, while the USA had the highest average number of citations per publication and the UK was the most collaborative with other countries. The keyword analysis shows that the research hotspots gradually shifted over time from early means and methods for determination of cobalt in solution to recovery of cobalt from spent lithium batteries, smelting slag, copper-cobalt ore, etc. The research will be focused on further improvement and optimization of the separation, extraction, and recovery processes of cobalt from spent batteries in recent and future years, and three approaches were promoted to facilitate economization and industrialization of the processes in this field.

Determination of trace elements in some copper minerals by k0-neutron activation analysis

Trace element contents in two copper minerals [brochantite [Cu(4)SO(4)(OH)(6)] and native Cu] using k(0)-NAA were determined before and after quantitative removal of copper. The distribution of 44 elements in the studied minerals was investigated. An important advantage of the proposed method is the possibility to determine the content of several elements (Al, Dy, Mg, Mn and V) via their short-lived nuclides after the electrolytic removal of Cu due to the elimination of matrix interferences.

Is extraction of Fe from iron based reference materials an appropriate method for determination of trace elements?

Various trace elements in different types of iron based geological reference materials [JSS 804-1 (hematite), JSS 820-2 (limonite), SU-1 and SU-1a (iron-nickel-copper-cobalt ores)] were investigated using k 0-instrumental neutron activation analysis (k 0-INAA). To avoid the interference of iron as the matrix element, a liquid–liquid extraction procedure with diisopropyl ether (DIPE) in hydrochloric acid solution and determination of trace elements in the inorganic phase was undertaken prior to irradiation. The k 0-INAA method, applied to determine the content of the investigated elements, enabled the distribution of 39 elements to be followed through their corresponding intermediate/medium and long half-lived radionuclides. The possibility of determining the content of numerous trace elements after Fe separation is an important advantage of the proposed method. k 0-INAA used to determine element s in the powdered materials and in liquid form after iron extraction enabled us to follow the losses and potential contamination of some elements in the liquid–liquid extraction process. Additionally, elimination of the matrix element lowered the detection limit for some trace elements compared to their corresponding values obtained by k 0-INAA.