Authors : Mungwa Kalundu Gaylord; Kalunga Zugu Maryssa; Ndala Mbavu Bavon; Zeka Mujinga

Volume/Issue : Volume 10 - 2025, Issue 10 - October

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DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/25oct825

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Abstract : This study examines the limits of Cyanex 272's absorption capacity in a complex industrial solvent extraction (SX) process for cobalt, applied at the LAMIKAL plants (Lualaba, DRC). The objective is to evaluate the actual performance of Cyanex 272 under multi-metal industrial conditions, where cobalt, copper and manganese coexist. Operating parameters such as pH, extractant concentration, organic/aqueous ratio (O/A) and contact time were optimised. The results show a cobalt extraction yield limited to 31.5%, compared to 98.6% for copper and 97.9% for manganese, revealing a low selectivity of Cyanex 272 towards cobalt in the presence of impurities. Recommendations are made to improve the selectivity of the process in a real industrial context.

Keywords : Solvent Extraction - Cyanex 272 - Cobalt - Copper - Manganese - Selectivity - Extraction yield - Hydrometallurgy - Lamikal - Parameter Optimisation - Ion Competition - Industrial Process.

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