Assessing metal extraction from metalliferous waste: A study using deep eutectic solvents and chelating agents vs. ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

Conventional methods of metal recovery involving solvents have raised environmental concerns. To address these concerns and promote sustainable resource recovery, we explored the use of deep eutectic solvents (DES) and chelating agents (CA) as more environmentally friendly alternatives. Goethite and blast oxide slag dust (BOS-D) from heap piles at their respective sites and characterised via ICP-MS. The greatest extraction of critical metals was from goethite, removing 38% of all metals compared to 21% from the blast oxide slag. Among the tested CA, nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) was the most effective, while for DES, choline chloride ethylene glycol (ChCl-EG) demonstrated superior performance in extracting metals from both blast oxide slag dust and goethite. The study further highlighted the selectivity for transition metals and metalloids was influenced by the carboxyl groups of DES. Alkaline metals and rare earth lanthanides extractions were favoured with DES due to improved mass transfer and increased denticity, respectively. In comparison to ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), typically used for metal extraction, CA and DES showed comparable extraction efficiency for Fe, Cu, Pb, Li, Al, Mn, and Ni. Using these greener chelators and solvents for metal extraction show significant promise in enhancing the sustainability of solvometallurgy. Additional conditions e.g., temperature and agitation combined with a cascading leaching process could further enhance metal extraction potential.

This research was funded by the European Regional Development Fund as part of the Interreg Northwest Europe project “Regeneration of past metallurgical sites and deposits through innovative circularity for raw materials” (REGENERATIS) (NWE918).

Journal of Environmental Management