About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Advances in Recycling and Environmental Technologies
|
| Presentation Title |
Sustainable Cobalt Leaching Using In-Situ CoO Reduction: A Microwave-Driven Solution for Complex Ores |
| Author(s) |
Beatia Siame, Moses Charles Siame, Joseph Kasonta Kafumbila, Yotamu Rainford Stephen Hara, Makwenda Ngomba, Somo Sakambuki, Cheryl Shawl , Ian Reaney |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Beatia Siame |
| Abstract Scope |
This study presents a green cobalt extraction method from Zebesha ore in Zambia, combining carbothermic reduction with microwave-assisted leaching (MWL) and conventional leaching (CL). Ore mixed with 20 wt.% charcoal was roasted at 650 °C for 1.5 hours in air, reducing Co₂O₃·H₂O to CoO. A 1:1 mixture of roasted and unroasted ore was leached under MWL and CL conditions. The CoO in the roasted portion served as an in-situ reductant, converting Co³⁺ to Co²⁺ in the unroasted ore. MWL achieved 98.0% cobalt extraction in 30 minutes, compared to 96.5% in 180 minutes for CL. This method eliminates sodium metabisulphite, avoiding harmful sodium sulphate byproducts. The approach provides a sustainable, low-energy route for cobalt recovery from both primary ores and secondary resources such as spent lithium-ion batteries. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Undecided |
| Keywords |
Copper / Nickel / Cobalt, Extraction and Processing, Recycling and Secondary Recovery |