Nickel: The "Vitamin" of Modern Industry & The Magical Extraction Technique of Nickel

Nickel is a silvery-white metal with the element symbol Ni and atomic number 28. It is located in Group VIII of the fourth period of the periodic table. The melting point is as high as 1455°C.

Basic characteristics:

Corrosion resistance: It forms a dense oxide film and performs exceptionally well, especially in alkaline environments

Ferromagnetism: It has strong ferromagnetism below the Curie temperature (358°C)

Alloy compatibility: It can form alloys with various metals such as iron, copper and chromium, each with different properties

Catalytic activity: In specific forms, it can be used as an excellent catalyst for hydrogenation, reforming and other reactions

Wide application fields:

1.Made of stainless steel

More than 65% of nickel is used in the production of stainless steel. Adding nickel can significantly enhance the corrosion resistance, strength and toughness of steel, making stainless steel an ideal material for construction, kitchenware, medical equipment and other fields.

2. Battery technology

Nickel is a key component of the cathode material for lithium-ion batteries, especially for NMC (nickel manganese cobalt) and NCA (nickel cobalt aluminum) batteries. With the rapid development of electric vehicles, the demand for nickel in the battery field has grown explosively.

3. Aerospace

Nickel-based superalloys are core materials for jet engines, gas turbines and rocket engines, capable of withstanding extreme high temperatures and pressures to ensure flight safety.

4. Electroplating industry

Nickel electroplating provides corrosion-resistant, wear-resistant and decorative surfaces for other metals and is widely used in automotive parts, faucets, jewelry and other fields.

5. Catalyst

Nickel serves as a catalyst in petroleum refining and chemical production, promoting important chemical processes such as hydrogenation reactions.

Nickel extraction resin: Precise "capture" technology:

Iminodiacetic acid type (IDA) : contains the -CH₂N(CH₂COOH)₂ group

Working pH: 2.5-6.0

Feature: This is the most commonly used general-purpose chelating resin. It has a good adsorption capacity and selectivity for nickel ions within a wide pH range (especially from weak acid to neutral conditions), and can effectively separate nickel from common alkaline earth metal ions (such as calcium and magnesium). The separation coefficient for nickel and cobalt reaches 50-200, making it particularly suitable for battery recycling liquid.

Amino phosphoric acid type:It contains -CH₂NHCH₂PO₃H₂ groups

Working pH: 1.5-4.5

Characteristics: It has extremely high selectivity for nickel, especially in acidic environments. It can preferentially adsorb nickel from solutions with high concentrations of interfering ions such as calcium and magnesium.

Bispyridinamine type:It contains an amine ligand based on a bipyridine ring

Features: It has extremely high selectivity and binding strength, and can selectively adsorb nickel under harsh conditions such as strong acids or high salinity. It is mainly used in fields with extremely high requirements for nickel purity.