Influence of H2SO4 and ferric iron on Cd bioleaching from spent Ni-Cd batteries

The paper is concerned with biohydrometallurgical methods of cadmium recovery from spent Ni-Cd batteries. Cd leaching efficiency from electrode material in different media (H2SO4 and Fe-2(SO4)(3) solutions), at different Fe(III) concentrations and using the bacteria Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans were investigated. The main aim of this study was to understand which from the bioleaching products (sulphuric acid or ferric sulphate) play a main role in the bioleaching process of Cd recovery. The influence of Fe ions on Cd leachability was confirmed. The best leaching efficiency of Cd (100%) was reached by bioleaching and also by leaching in Fe-2(SO4)(3) solution. The results of X-ray diffraction confirmed that no cadmium was present in solid residuum obtained after the Cd bioleaching as well as Cd leaching using solely ferric iron. The use of H2SO4 solution resulted in the lowest efficiency of Cd leachability, the presence of hydroxides in electrode materials caused neutralization of the leaching solution and inhibition of Cd leaching. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.