Nickel Recovery from Spent Ni/Al_2O_3 Catalysts Using Nitric Acid Solution

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Oza, Rachit | Shah, Nikhil | Patel, Sanjay

Affiliations: Department of Chemical Engineering, Institute of Technology, Nirma University Ahmedabad - 382 481, Gujarat, India

Note: [] Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: This study investigates the possibility of recovering nickel from the spent catalyst (Ni/Al_2O_3) used in the steam reforming process of a fertilizer industry. In the leaching process, nickel is recovered as nickel nitrate using nitric acid as a solvent The effects of acid concentration, temperature, solid to liquid (S:L) ratio and reaction time on nickel recovery were examined. The 95% leaching efficiency of nickel from the spent catalysts having size between 1–2 mm was achieved at optimized conditions: 40% acid concentration (v/v), temperature 90°C, solid:liquid ratio of 1:10 g/ml and leaching time 5 hour.

Keywords: Spent catalyst, nickel nitrate, nickel recovery, leaching

Journal: Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution, vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 51-58, 2011