LAUSR

Abstract A cementation process with Zn powder followed by magnetic separation was conducted to separate Co as precipitate from leach solution containing Mn ions and to recover unreacted Zn and concentrated Co from cementation precipitate. The separation of Co component from Mn could be achieved successfully by a cementation process performed under the following conditions; 200 mg/L Cu, 140 mg/L Sb, pH 3.3–3.7, temperature 85 °C, and 1% Zn powder, where Cu and Sb were used as cementation activators to avoid the redissolution of Co. Magnetic separation of the cementation-precipitate was performed using 2000 G magnetic rod, and the results showed that Zn distributed more in non-magnetic fraction while Co, Cu, Sb were contained more in magnetic fraction. The Co was concentrated to 8.3% in magnetic fraction of the precipitate obtained from 60 min-cementation test. The non-magnetic fraction contained the unreacted Zn powder, which could be reused for cementation test for precipitating Co.