Recovery of nickel from sulphate media by batch pertraction in a rotating film contactor using Cyanex 302 as a carrier

The behaviour of several organophosphorus extractants for nickel removal from sulphate solutions was studied. Cyanex 302 was found to be the most suitable extracting reagent for nickel recovery from neutral and slightly acidic aqueous solutions. Nickel was successfully recovered from neutral and slightly acidic sulphate media (pH 6.2–7.0) applying batch pertraction in a rotating film contactor and using Cyanex 302 as a carrier. Higher pH of the feed solution favours the process of nickel transfer. Positive effect of the agitation of all three phases on the process of nickel pertraction was also observed. At relatively low rotation velocity pertraction process is controlled by both diffusion and kinetics, while at high velocity the process is governed mainly by nickel-extraction kinetics.