CMI researchers from Colorado School of Mines conducted the research for this highlight.
Innovation
Beneficiation of cobalt ore via sortation, flotation, thermal decomposition and magnetic separation to produce 70% improvement in cobalt grade over previous processing.
Achievement
- Produced a final cobalt concentrate analyzing at 3.16% cobalt with a recovery of 78.7% and a separate 4.9% copper concentrate.
- Reduced the mass of the concentrate to store and transport for energy savings.
- Co-production benefits: a separate copper concentrate with minimal cobalt and high-purity sulfur.
Significance and Impact
Future increase in a sustainable domestic supply of cobalt to decrease reliance on imports for battery technologies.
Hub Target Addressed
Unlocking unconventional resources. Highly selective separation from complex sources.