ELECTROCHEMICAL RECOVERY OF NICKEL FROM SPENT Ni-Cd BATTERIES

Abstract

Ni-Cd battery electrodes contain heavy metals such as Ni, Cd and Co, which must be recycled due to environmental problems. The paper presents the research results of the process of recycling Ni-Cd batteries in order to obtain electrolytic nickel by a combination of hydro and electrometallurgical processes. The optimal degree of Ni leaching (93.85%) was achieved by leaching with 2.5 M H₂SO₄ at a temperature of 80 °C at a ratio of solid to liquid ratio of 1:15 (S:L = 1:15) and leaching time of 5 h. 1 M DEHPA was used to remove cadmium from the leach solution. Electrolytic Ni with a purity of 99.98% was obtained from the purified solution.