Extraction and Recovery of Metals from Spent HDS Catalysts: Lab- and Pilot-Scale Results of the Overall Process

The present study proposes an overall recycling process for spent hydrodesulfurization (HDS) catalysts. The process put together stages already known in the technical literature, tested again with samples coming from the roasting stage in a pilot kiln, which is the most limiting stage of metal recov...

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Main Authors: Nertil Xhaferaj, Francesco Ferella
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-12-01
Series:Metals
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/12/12/2162
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author Nertil Xhaferaj
Francesco Ferella
author_facet Nertil Xhaferaj
Francesco Ferella
author_sort Nertil Xhaferaj
collection DOAJ
description The present study proposes an overall recycling process for spent hydrodesulfurization (HDS) catalysts. The process put together stages already known in the technical literature, tested again with samples coming from the roasting stage in a pilot kiln, which is the most limiting stage of metal recovery from spent catalysts. These catalysts contain valuable metals like cobalt (Co), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), and vanadium (V). In particular, one Co-Mo catalyst was treated in order to optimize the roasting step (time, soda ash, and temperature) at a pilot scale and thus maximize the extraction yield of molybdenum (Mo) and vanadium (V). In particular, a dry Co-Mo catalyst was used. After roasting at 700 °C for 2.5 h, the best conditions, the catalysts underwent water leaching, separating Mo and V from Co and the alumina carrier, which remained in the solid residue. The pregnant solution was treated to remove arsenic (As) and phosphorus (P), representing the main impurities for producing steel alloys. V was precipitated as NH<sub>4</sub>Cl, and further calcined to obtain commercial-grade V<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub>, whereas Mo was recovered as molybdic acid by further precipitation at a pH of around one. Thus, molybdic acid was calcined and converted into commercial-grade MoO<sub>3</sub> by calcination. The hydrometallurgical section was tested on a lab scale. The total recovery yield was nearly 61% for Mo and 68% for V, respectively, compared with their initial concentration in the spent Co-Mo catalysts.
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spelling doaj.art-002e866cdee04082bfc0c8977107fd112023-11-24T16:41:56ZengMDPI AGMetals2075-47012022-12-011212216210.3390/met12122162Extraction and Recovery of Metals from Spent HDS Catalysts: Lab- and Pilot-Scale Results of the Overall ProcessNertil Xhaferaj0Francesco Ferella1Department of Food Technology, Faculty of Food and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Tirana, KodërKamëz, SH1, 1000 Tirana, AlbaniaDepartment of Industrial and Computer Engineering and Economics, University of L’Aquila, P.le E. Pontieri 1, Monteluco di Roio, 67100 L’Aquila, ItalyThe present study proposes an overall recycling process for spent hydrodesulfurization (HDS) catalysts. The process put together stages already known in the technical literature, tested again with samples coming from the roasting stage in a pilot kiln, which is the most limiting stage of metal recovery from spent catalysts. These catalysts contain valuable metals like cobalt (Co), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), and vanadium (V). In particular, one Co-Mo catalyst was treated in order to optimize the roasting step (time, soda ash, and temperature) at a pilot scale and thus maximize the extraction yield of molybdenum (Mo) and vanadium (V). In particular, a dry Co-Mo catalyst was used. After roasting at 700 °C for 2.5 h, the best conditions, the catalysts underwent water leaching, separating Mo and V from Co and the alumina carrier, which remained in the solid residue. The pregnant solution was treated to remove arsenic (As) and phosphorus (P), representing the main impurities for producing steel alloys. V was precipitated as NH<sub>4</sub>Cl, and further calcined to obtain commercial-grade V<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub>, whereas Mo was recovered as molybdic acid by further precipitation at a pH of around one. Thus, molybdic acid was calcined and converted into commercial-grade MoO<sub>3</sub> by calcination. The hydrometallurgical section was tested on a lab scale. The total recovery yield was nearly 61% for Mo and 68% for V, respectively, compared with their initial concentration in the spent Co-Mo catalysts.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/12/12/2162catalystmolybdenumvanadiumcobalthydrodesulfurizationHDS
spellingShingle Nertil Xhaferaj
Francesco Ferella
Extraction and Recovery of Metals from Spent HDS Catalysts: Lab- and Pilot-Scale Results of the Overall Process
Metals
catalyst
molybdenum
vanadium
cobalt
hydrodesulfurization
HDS
title Extraction and Recovery of Metals from Spent HDS Catalysts: Lab- and Pilot-Scale Results of the Overall Process
title_full Extraction and Recovery of Metals from Spent HDS Catalysts: Lab- and Pilot-Scale Results of the Overall Process
title_fullStr Extraction and Recovery of Metals from Spent HDS Catalysts: Lab- and Pilot-Scale Results of the Overall Process
title_full_unstemmed Extraction and Recovery of Metals from Spent HDS Catalysts: Lab- and Pilot-Scale Results of the Overall Process
title_short Extraction and Recovery of Metals from Spent HDS Catalysts: Lab- and Pilot-Scale Results of the Overall Process
title_sort extraction and recovery of metals from spent hds catalysts lab and pilot scale results of the overall process
topic catalyst
molybdenum
vanadium
cobalt
hydrodesulfurization
HDS
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/12/12/2162
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