Cobalt recovery from industrial and nuclear waste resources: A review

Abstract

With the widespread applications of cobalt in energy storage, electronics, electric vehicles, and most importantly, in the production of ⁶⁰Co in nuclear industries, its recovery from secondary sources is increasingly important. On the other hand, approximately half of the 440 operating nuclear reactors, across the world, are expected to be retired in the next two decades, creating a significant amount of radioactive waste that poses a serious threat to the ecosystem. But cobalt has low adsorption capacity under low pH conditions, and competitive ions make its recovery difficult. To the best of author's knowledge, the adsorption capacity of cobalt is mostly reported under 500 mgg^-1. Firstly, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the physicochemical properties of cobalt isotopes. It then presents an in-depth analysis of various separation methods for cobalt from battery waste and nuclear wastewater, including physical-chemical, electrochemical, and biological methods. All techniques are evaluated based on their selectivity, efficiency, scalability, and environmental impact. By comparing state-of-the-art technology, this review aims to address existing gaps and advance our understanding of an efficient cobalt recovery from industrial waste. The review concludes with an overview of the global cobalt market, examining both radioactive and non-radioactive cobalt, and considers the economic implications of cobalt recovery.