Electrochemical performance and behavior of nickel pig Iron anodic electrolysis for enhanced sulfuric acid leaching

This study presents an innovative electrochemical method for producing ultra-fine Nickel Pig Iron (NPI) powders through anodically induced overpotential electrolysis, achieving a significantly high surface area and exceptional sulfuric acid leaching efficiency. Nickel, a critical material for energy...

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Main Authors: Namhun Kwon, Myungsuk Kim, Soongju Oh, Jae Hong Shin, Kyoung-Tae Park
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-08-01
Series:Electrochemistry Communications
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1388248125000761
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author Namhun Kwon
Myungsuk Kim
Soongju Oh
Jae Hong Shin
Kyoung-Tae Park
author_facet Namhun Kwon
Myungsuk Kim
Soongju Oh
Jae Hong Shin
Kyoung-Tae Park
author_sort Namhun Kwon
collection DOAJ
description This study presents an innovative electrochemical method for producing ultra-fine Nickel Pig Iron (NPI) powders through anodically induced overpotential electrolysis, achieving a significantly high surface area and exceptional sulfuric acid leaching efficiency. Nickel, a critical material for energy applications, faces increasing supply constraints, leading to greater reliance on intermediates like nickel sulfate. Conventional high-pressure acid leaching (HPAL) processes, while effective, suffer from high operational costs and excessive acid waste generation. To address these challenges, this study employs anodic oxidation of NPI under high-voltage conditions (≥10 V), facilitating particle refinement and enhanced electrochemical reactivity. Electrochemical characterizations, including cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and Pourbaix diagram analysis, confirm the formation of oxidized Ni-rich phases at optimal voltage ranges with peak current exceeding 10 A. The resulting fine NPI powders exhibit a leaching efficiency surpassing 95 % in 2 mol/L sulfuric acid at ambient temperature and pressure, demonstrating their potential as a cost-effective alternative to HPAL. Further post-process evaluations reveal critical electrolysis parameters influencing oxidation behavior and leaching performance, providing key insights for optimizing nickel extraction via anodic electrolysis.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1388-2481
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Electrochemistry Communications
spelling doaj-art-1e2fe040c2e148c18493834df4f600da2025-08-20T03:56:41ZengElsevierElectrochemistry Communications1388-24812025-08-0117710793710.1016/j.elecom.2025.107937Electrochemical performance and behavior of nickel pig Iron anodic electrolysis for enhanced sulfuric acid leachingNamhun Kwon0Myungsuk Kim1Soongju Oh2Jae Hong Shin3Kyoung-Tae Park4Korea National Institute of Rare Metals, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, Incheon 21655, Republic of Korea; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of KoreaKorea National Institute of Rare Metals, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, Incheon 21655, Republic of Korea; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of KoreaKorea National Institute of Rare Metals, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, Incheon 21655, Republic of Korea; Corresponding authors.Korea National Institute of Rare Metals, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, Incheon 21655, Republic of Korea; Corresponding authors.This study presents an innovative electrochemical method for producing ultra-fine Nickel Pig Iron (NPI) powders through anodically induced overpotential electrolysis, achieving a significantly high surface area and exceptional sulfuric acid leaching efficiency. Nickel, a critical material for energy applications, faces increasing supply constraints, leading to greater reliance on intermediates like nickel sulfate. Conventional high-pressure acid leaching (HPAL) processes, while effective, suffer from high operational costs and excessive acid waste generation. To address these challenges, this study employs anodic oxidation of NPI under high-voltage conditions (≥10 V), facilitating particle refinement and enhanced electrochemical reactivity. Electrochemical characterizations, including cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and Pourbaix diagram analysis, confirm the formation of oxidized Ni-rich phases at optimal voltage ranges with peak current exceeding 10 A. The resulting fine NPI powders exhibit a leaching efficiency surpassing 95 % in 2 mol/L sulfuric acid at ambient temperature and pressure, demonstrating their potential as a cost-effective alternative to HPAL. Further post-process evaluations reveal critical electrolysis parameters influencing oxidation behavior and leaching performance, providing key insights for optimizing nickel extraction via anodic electrolysis.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1388248125000761NiNickel pig IronElectrolysisElectrochemistryAnodizingLeaching
spellingShingle Namhun Kwon
Myungsuk Kim
Soongju Oh
Jae Hong Shin
Kyoung-Tae Park
Electrochemical performance and behavior of nickel pig Iron anodic electrolysis for enhanced sulfuric acid leaching
Electrochemistry Communications
Ni
Nickel pig Iron
Electrolysis
Electrochemistry
Anodizing
Leaching
title Electrochemical performance and behavior of nickel pig Iron anodic electrolysis for enhanced sulfuric acid leaching
title_full Electrochemical performance and behavior of nickel pig Iron anodic electrolysis for enhanced sulfuric acid leaching
title_fullStr Electrochemical performance and behavior of nickel pig Iron anodic electrolysis for enhanced sulfuric acid leaching
title_full_unstemmed Electrochemical performance and behavior of nickel pig Iron anodic electrolysis for enhanced sulfuric acid leaching
title_short Electrochemical performance and behavior of nickel pig Iron anodic electrolysis for enhanced sulfuric acid leaching
title_sort electrochemical performance and behavior of nickel pig iron anodic electrolysis for enhanced sulfuric acid leaching
topic Ni
Nickel pig Iron
Electrolysis
Electrochemistry
Anodizing
Leaching
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1388248125000761
work_keys_str_mv AT namhunkwon electrochemicalperformanceandbehaviorofnickelpigironanodicelectrolysisforenhancedsulfuricacidleaching
AT myungsukkim electrochemicalperformanceandbehaviorofnickelpigironanodicelectrolysisforenhancedsulfuricacidleaching
AT soongjuoh electrochemicalperformanceandbehaviorofnickelpigironanodicelectrolysisforenhancedsulfuricacidleaching
AT jaehongshin electrochemicalperformanceandbehaviorofnickelpigironanodicelectrolysisforenhancedsulfuricacidleaching
AT kyoungtaepark electrochemicalperformanceandbehaviorofnickelpigironanodicelectrolysisforenhancedsulfuricacidleaching