(285c) Sustainable Extraction and Recovery of Energy-Relevant Metals Using Aldoxime-Based Ligand Systems from Unconventional Resources

The development of renewable energy infrastructure hinges on the availability of energy-relevant metals, yet conventional mining practices raise sustainability concerns. To overcome these challenges, there is a pressing need for innovative technologies that explore alternative sources and employ eco-friendly hydrometallurgical extraction methods. Currently, aldoxime-based ligands are utilized in industry to recover Cu under extremely acidic conditions, but this process suffers from environmental drawbacks and lacks comprehensive understanding. Unconventional resources, notably e-waste such as waste printed circuit boards and batteries, hold significant promise due to their abundance of critical elements. This study explores the selective recovery of Ni using aldoxime-based ligands in the presence of competing elements like Co, Mn, Cu and Zn. Our investigation focuses on elucidating the mechanisms of metal complexation and optimizing operational parameters to achieve efficient extraction within a solvent extraction framework. Employing DFT and other analytical tools, we probe the mechanisms governing dimerization, deprotonation, and complexation during the metal extraction process. Furthermore, we assess the applicability of this methodology in a practical setting by exploring its utilization in extracting cobalt, nickel, and manganese from real battery leachates, thereby demonstrating its potential for selective element recovery in industrial contexts.