Isolating Cobalt from Ore - Industrial Process

[danne89]

How do you isolate cobalt industilly from its ores? I was thinking about some oxidation:
$$Co_2S_4 + 4~O_2 ~ \rightarrow 4~SO_2 + Co_3$$

Gratefull,
Danne

 

[chem_tr]

How do you isolate cobalt industilly from its ores? I was thinking about some oxidation:
$$Co_2S_4 + 4~O_2 ~ \rightarrow 4~SO_2 + Co_3$$

Gratefull,
Danne

My textbook says that cobalt oxides are reduced with coal to give elemental cobalt, or solubilized cobalt salts are treated with ammonia to give a complex, which is then reduced with hydrogen to give powdered cobalt. The powdered cobalt is melt in an inert atmosphere to make solid masses from it.

The principal reaction is reduction with coal:

$$2CoAsS + 5O_2 \rightarrow Co_2O_3 + As_2O_3 + 2SO_2$$ (roasting; the mineral is cobaltine).

$$2Co_2O_3 + 3C \rightarrow 4Co + 3CO_2$$ (reduction with coal).

The redox reactions are my reasoning, I don't guarantee anything, so you'll have to study them by yourself first.

 

[ravenprp]

The process of isolating cobalt from its ores is a complex industrial process that involves several steps. The most common method used is called the hydrometallurgical process, which involves leaching the ore with acids or alkalis to dissolve the cobalt and other metals. This is followed by precipitation and purification steps to obtain pure cobalt.

The first step in this process is crushing and grinding the ore to a fine powder. Then, the ore is mixed with sulfuric acid and heated to dissolve the cobalt. This forms a solution of cobalt sulfate, which is then filtered to remove any impurities.

Next, the cobalt sulfate solution is treated with chemicals such as ammonia or sodium hydroxide to adjust the pH and precipitate out the cobalt. This precipitate is then filtered and dried to obtain a cobalt hydroxide.

The cobalt hydroxide is further processed to obtain a pure cobalt metal. This can be done through a process called electroplating, where an electric current is used to deposit the cobalt onto a cathode. Another method is through a process called reduction, where the cobalt hydroxide is heated with carbon or hydrogen to obtain pure cobalt metal.

The oxidation reaction you mentioned, where cobalt sulfide is oxidized to cobalt oxide, is also a possible step in the process. However, this step alone is not enough to isolate cobalt from its ores. It would need to be followed by further purification steps to obtain pure cobalt metal.

In conclusion, isolating cobalt from its ores is a multi-step industrial process that involves leaching, precipitation, and purification. The exact method used may vary depending on the specific ore and the desired purity of the final cobalt product.