| Abstract Scope |
Membrane solvent extraction (MSX) offers key advantages over conventional SX in cobalt recovery, including continuous operation, reduced solvent loss, and improved phase stability. However, its adoption in the mining industry has been limited by a lack of predictive design models. This work presents a mechanistic derivation of the overall mass transfer coefficient for cobalt transport using Cyanex 272. The model captures individual resistances in the feed boundary layer, membrane, and strip side, and accounts for asymmetric partitioning behavior driven by pH and extractant concentration.
Unlike prior simplified approaches, this formulation reveals that strip-side resistance and unequal partition coefficients can strongly control cobalt flux. This framework enables rational design of MSX systems—supporting membrane area sizing, pH optimization, and extractant selection—for the recovery of cobalt and other critical metals.
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