Cobalt Production

Cobalt is a rare metal; the abundant deposits are almost exhausted. For this reason Cobalt is usually not mined alone, and tends to be produced as a by-product of nickel and copper after concentrating. The headings then are treated by sulphur acid or ammonia solutions then processed via pyrometallurgical methods into sulphide alloy and then trated by sulphur acid again in heaps. After that cobalt is extracted from its impurities. The most difficult operation is the separation of nickel from cobalt in cobalt refining facilities. The solution which contains cations of the both elements is put into reaction which strong oxidizer such as chlorine or sodium hypochlorite NaOCl which causes cobalt precipitation. The final refining is made by electrolysis of sulphates water solution with boric acid H₃BO₃.