Page 43 - Annual Report_21-22

Technology for the recovery of cobalt from alloy scrap and impure cobalt hydroxide (MIDHANI,
Hyderabad)

Since India does have any exploitable primary resource of raw materials namely scrap turnings and impure cobalt
cobalt, CSIR-IMMT has ventured into recovery of cobalt hydroxide. A draft BEP and TEFR for 1500 TPA Co scrap
values from a secondary resource like super alloy scrap processing plant based on bench scale test results, and
turnings and impure cobalt hydroxide. The work is being complete process costing for Co recovery from impure
funded by MIDHANI, Hyderabad. Processes have been cobalt hydroxide intermediates have been presented to
developed and validated for the recovery of Co from two MIDHANI, Hyderabad.

Fig. Testing and demonstration of Cobalt scrap turning process at bench scale

Extraction of metal values from polymetallic nodules: PMN programme

India’s resource security of energy materials such as Ni and reduced pellets subsequent to the gaseous reduction of
Co can be supported by deep-sea minerals, particularly PMN nodules, (ii) bench-scale testing of the integration of
Polymetallic Manganese Nodules (PMN). CSIR-IMMT recycled ammonia from ammonium sulphate splitting, (iii)
has hitherto successfully demonstrated a process at HZL laboratory testing of the integrated flow sheet.
Udaipur at a 500 kg/ day scale to recover Cu, Ni and Co
(3 metals). In order to strengthen this technology through Besides the major activities, various sub-activities
a diversified product portfolio and reducing the load on on process intensification, energy, Green House Gas
CO emissions in the process, the current work at CSIR- estimation, surfactant-based leaching etc. are an ongoing
2
IMMT is focused on developing processes capable of 4 and metallurgical exploration of other deep-sea minerals
metals recovery (including Mn) and utilization of effluent such as Polymetallic Sulphides (PMS) and Polymetallic
streams and by-products. During 2021-22 the following Cobalt Crusts (PCC), will be taken up as and when the
activities were carried out (i) pilot-scale melting of the minerals are available for the metallurgical R&D.

ANNUAL REPORT 2021-22 41