Russian scientists have discovered a way to extract valuable metals from industrial wastewater

Russian scientists have created an innovative technology for extracting valuable metals from industrial wastewater, Southern Federal University (SFU) told Izvestia on April 22.

Researchers at the D.I. Ivanovsky Academy of Biology and Biotechnology (ABiB SFU) have developed a unique combination of electrochemical processes and advanced mineralization technologies: at the first stage, a special installation with electrodes made of lead dioxide and stainless steel extracts nickel ions (a strategically important metal widely used in various industries), and subsequent treatment with an innovative mineralizer CaAl-900 ensures complete neutralization of the remaining dangerous compounds.

The university noted that the experimental results exceeded all expectations. The technology demonstrates unprecedented efficiency: 99.8% of nickel is returned to the production cycle, and 99.1% of harmful substances are converted into safe compounds. At the same time, the quality of the purified water fully complies with the strictest environmental standards.

"Such a study will allow electroplating enterprises to meet environmental requirements, save costs through nickel recovery and contribute to the sustainable development of the industry. For full—scale industrial implementation, further large-scale tests are needed to verify the stability and profitability of the method in various production conditions," concluded Vishnu Rajput, a leading researcher at ABiB SFU and head of the International Laboratory of Nanobiotechnology.

Laboratory paths: teeth from a test tube and magnets from rare earths

Izvestia has prepared the top 5 interesting scientific events of the week

Earlier, on March 15, the SFU named promising areas of Russian technological leadership to Izvestia. Nanomedicine, low-tonnage chemistry, environmental and food security, as well as deep processing of hydrocarbon raw materials may become one of the main strategic areas in which the Russian Federation is able to achieve technological leadership in the coming years.