CMI Project 1.2.15: Unlocking domestic cobalt production through electrochemical capture of arsenic

Luis Diaz Aldana at Idaho National Laboratory leads the CMI project "Unlocking domestic cobalt production through electrochemical capture of arsenic"

This project seeks develop a clean and efficient technological solution to unlock one of the largest cobalt (Co) reserves in the United States. The most prolific Co mineralizations in the United States are mainly composed of metasedimentary rocks, where the dominant minerals are cobaltite (CoAsS) or other Co-rich sulfarsenides, with variable amounts of cobaltiferrous pyrite and arsenopyrite, among others. The risk associated with arsenic (As) release and leaching from generated waste results in environmental hazards. Therefore, energy efficient alternatives to process As produced during Co extraction are required to unlock the potential value of cobaltite minerals.