Sustainable recovery of nickel from spent hydrogenation catalyst: economics, emissions and wastes assessment

• Published in: Journal of cleaner production 2011-03, Vol.19 (4), p.365-375
• Main Authors: Yang, Q.Z., Qi, G.J., Low, H.C., Song, B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carbon; Carbon footprint; Catalysts; economic sustainability; Economic viability; Economics; Emission analysis; emissions; energy efficiency; energy use and consumption; hydrogenation; Markets; Nickel; production costs; profitability; Recovery; recycling; Resource efficiency; social environment; Spent catalyst; Sustainability; Sustainable recovery of nickel; toxicity; Wastes
• ISSN: 0959-6526; 1879-1786
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2010.11.007

Economic viability, carbon emission profile and waste management associated with nickel recovery from spent hydrogenation catalysts are studied from sustainability perspectives. The purpose is to determine and compare the economic, environmental and social implications of different nickel reclamation techniques towards clean, safe and sustainable recovery of nickel from spent catalysts. Sustainability evaluation models are formulated to understand and improve the cost, carbon footprint and resource efficiency of a closed-loop nickel recovery process. The economic viability of the process highly depends on market values of recovered nickel and the production batch size. At a selling price higher than $12.60/kg, an operation with a batch size as small as 50 kg/batch would be profitable. The current rising nickel market, at ∼$18–24/kg, favors recovery operations although it also casts a dual effect on production costs. About 73–82% of carbon emission of the process is from the use of energy in the recovery operation. Energy efficiency is therefore identified as the most critical factor to improve the carbon footprint. The closed-loop process also improves resource use efficiency and minimizes toxic waste generation.