Controllable Production of Ag/Zn and Ag Particles from Hydrometallurgical Zinc Solutions

Zulin Wang; Pyry-Mikko Hannula; Swarnalok De; Benjamin P. Wilson; Jaana Vapaavuori; Kirsi Yliniemi; Mari Lundström

doi:10.1021/acssuschemeng.1c01789

Controllable Production of Ag/Zn and Ag Particles from Hydrometallurgical Zinc Solutions

Zulin Wang, Pyry-Mikko Hannula, Swarnalok De, Benjamin P. Wilson, Jaana Vapaavuori, Kirsi Yliniemi, Mari Lundström^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review

13 Citations (Scopus)

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Abstract

Ag/Zn and Ag particles have been successfully produced from electrolytes simulating zinc process solutions containing a high zinc concentration (65 g/L) and a negligible silver concentration (0.5-50 ppm) using a facile and sustainable electrodeposition-redox replacement (EDRR) method. Results show that the particle size and chemical composition of the deposited Ag/Zn and Ag particles can be readily controlled by varying the operating parameters such as replacement time and agitation. Electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) studies supported with SEM-EDS and TEM results indicate that the EDRR process consists of three regions: (I) zinc pulse deposition; (II) redox replacement between the Ag+ ions and the deposited Zn, formation of a Zn/Ag alloy structure, and competing Zn oxidation by H+ ions; and (III) further replacement between Ag+ ions and Zn (alloy) formed in the previous stage and possible silver reduction by hydrogen. The Zn (alloy) has a higher reduction potential which hinders the competing H+ reduction and sequentially improves the utilization efficiency of the sacrificial metal (Zn). Furthermore, by using the EDRR method, Ag/Zn particles could be successfully obtained from solutions with an extremely low Ag concentration of 0.5 ppm. The promising results demonstrate the feasibility of producing Ag-based functional materials utilizing trace amounts of Ag from zinc process solutions.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	8186–8197
Number of pages	12
Journal	ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering
Volume	9
Issue number	24
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.1c01789
Publication status	Published - 21 Jun 2021
MoE publication type	A1 Journal article-refereed

Funding

Academy of Finland projects (GoldTail (319691) and NoWASTE (297962)) are greatly acknowledged for funding this research. The RawMatTERS Finland Infrastructure (RAMI) funded by the Academy of Finland and based at Aalto University is also acknowledged. In addition, the financial support from the Chinese Scholarship Council (CSC) is gratefully acknowledged by Z.W. S.D. was supported by the Ella and Georg Ehrnrooth Foundation. J.V. acknowledges with gratitude the funding from the Academy of Finland (SUPER-WEAR: Decision number: 322214 and SUBSTAINABLE: Decision number: 334818).

Keywords

Bimetallic particles
Circular economy
Electrodeposition
Precious metal
Redox replacement

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1021/acssuschemeng.1c01789Licence: CC BY

CHEM_Wang_et_al_Controllable_Production_of_Ag_2021_ACS_Sustainable_Chemistry_and_EngineeringFinal published version, 9.57 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

@article{a758b75e0dd7492e81e8661ceae809c2,

title = "Controllable Production of Ag/Zn and Ag Particles from Hydrometallurgical Zinc Solutions",

abstract = "Ag/Zn and Ag particles have been successfully produced from electrolytes simulating zinc process solutions containing a high zinc concentration (65 g/L) and a negligible silver concentration (0.5-50 ppm) using a facile and sustainable electrodeposition-redox replacement (EDRR) method. Results show that the particle size and chemical composition of the deposited Ag/Zn and Ag particles can be readily controlled by varying the operating parameters such as replacement time and agitation. Electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) studies supported with SEM-EDS and TEM results indicate that the EDRR process consists of three regions: (I) zinc pulse deposition; (II) redox replacement between the Ag+ ions and the deposited Zn, formation of a Zn/Ag alloy structure, and competing Zn oxidation by H+ ions; and (III) further replacement between Ag+ ions and Zn (alloy) formed in the previous stage and possible silver reduction by hydrogen. The Zn (alloy) has a higher reduction potential which hinders the competing H+ reduction and sequentially improves the utilization efficiency of the sacrificial metal (Zn). Furthermore, by using the EDRR method, Ag/Zn particles could be successfully obtained from solutions with an extremely low Ag concentration of 0.5 ppm. The promising results demonstrate the feasibility of producing Ag-based functional materials utilizing trace amounts of Ag from zinc process solutions.",

keywords = "Bimetallic particles, Circular economy, Electrodeposition, Precious metal, Redox replacement",

author = "Zulin Wang and Pyry-Mikko Hannula and Swarnalok De and Wilson, \{Benjamin P.\} and Jaana Vapaavuori and Kirsi Yliniemi and Mari Lundstr{\"o}m",

note = "Funding Information: Academy of Finland projects (GoldTail (319691) and NoWASTE (297962)) are greatly acknowledged for funding this research. The RawMatTERS Finland Infrastructure (RAMI) funded by the Academy of Finland and based at Aalto University is also acknowledged. In addition, the financial support from the Chinese Scholarship Council (CSC) is gratefully acknowledged by Z.W. S.D. was supported by the Ella and Georg Ehrnrooth Foundation. J.V. acknowledges with gratitude the funding from the Academy of Finland (SUPER-WEAR: Decision number: 322214 and SUBSTAINABLE: Decision number: 334818). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.",

year = "2021",

month = jun,

day = "21",

doi = "10.1021/acssuschemeng.1c01789",

language = "English",

volume = "9",

pages = "8186–8197",

journal = "ACS Sustainable Chemistry \& Engineering",

issn = "2168-0485",

publisher = "American Chemical Society",

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T1 - Controllable Production of Ag/Zn and Ag Particles from Hydrometallurgical Zinc Solutions

AU - Wang, Zulin

AU - Hannula, Pyry-Mikko

AU - De, Swarnalok

AU - Wilson, Benjamin P.

AU - Vapaavuori, Jaana

AU - Yliniemi, Kirsi

AU - Lundström, Mari

N1 - Funding Information: Academy of Finland projects (GoldTail (319691) and NoWASTE (297962)) are greatly acknowledged for funding this research. The RawMatTERS Finland Infrastructure (RAMI) funded by the Academy of Finland and based at Aalto University is also acknowledged. In addition, the financial support from the Chinese Scholarship Council (CSC) is gratefully acknowledged by Z.W. S.D. was supported by the Ella and Georg Ehrnrooth Foundation. J.V. acknowledges with gratitude the funding from the Academy of Finland (SUPER-WEAR: Decision number: 322214 and SUBSTAINABLE: Decision number: 334818). Publisher Copyright: © 2021 American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.

PY - 2021/6/21

Y1 - 2021/6/21

N2 - Ag/Zn and Ag particles have been successfully produced from electrolytes simulating zinc process solutions containing a high zinc concentration (65 g/L) and a negligible silver concentration (0.5-50 ppm) using a facile and sustainable electrodeposition-redox replacement (EDRR) method. Results show that the particle size and chemical composition of the deposited Ag/Zn and Ag particles can be readily controlled by varying the operating parameters such as replacement time and agitation. Electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) studies supported with SEM-EDS and TEM results indicate that the EDRR process consists of three regions: (I) zinc pulse deposition; (II) redox replacement between the Ag+ ions and the deposited Zn, formation of a Zn/Ag alloy structure, and competing Zn oxidation by H+ ions; and (III) further replacement between Ag+ ions and Zn (alloy) formed in the previous stage and possible silver reduction by hydrogen. The Zn (alloy) has a higher reduction potential which hinders the competing H+ reduction and sequentially improves the utilization efficiency of the sacrificial metal (Zn). Furthermore, by using the EDRR method, Ag/Zn particles could be successfully obtained from solutions with an extremely low Ag concentration of 0.5 ppm. The promising results demonstrate the feasibility of producing Ag-based functional materials utilizing trace amounts of Ag from zinc process solutions.

AB - Ag/Zn and Ag particles have been successfully produced from electrolytes simulating zinc process solutions containing a high zinc concentration (65 g/L) and a negligible silver concentration (0.5-50 ppm) using a facile and sustainable electrodeposition-redox replacement (EDRR) method. Results show that the particle size and chemical composition of the deposited Ag/Zn and Ag particles can be readily controlled by varying the operating parameters such as replacement time and agitation. Electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) studies supported with SEM-EDS and TEM results indicate that the EDRR process consists of three regions: (I) zinc pulse deposition; (II) redox replacement between the Ag+ ions and the deposited Zn, formation of a Zn/Ag alloy structure, and competing Zn oxidation by H+ ions; and (III) further replacement between Ag+ ions and Zn (alloy) formed in the previous stage and possible silver reduction by hydrogen. The Zn (alloy) has a higher reduction potential which hinders the competing H+ reduction and sequentially improves the utilization efficiency of the sacrificial metal (Zn). Furthermore, by using the EDRR method, Ag/Zn particles could be successfully obtained from solutions with an extremely low Ag concentration of 0.5 ppm. The promising results demonstrate the feasibility of producing Ag-based functional materials utilizing trace amounts of Ag from zinc process solutions.

KW - Bimetallic particles

KW - Circular economy

KW - Electrodeposition

KW - Precious metal

KW - Redox replacement

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85109016217

U2 - 10.1021/acssuschemeng.1c01789

DO - 10.1021/acssuschemeng.1c01789

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85109016217

SN - 2168-0485

VL - 9

SP - 8186

EP - 8197

JO - ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering

JF - ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering

IS - 24

ER -

Controllable Production of Ag/Zn and Ag Particles from Hydrometallurgical Zinc Solutions

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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SUBSTAINABLE: Multifunctional, high performance cellulose-based substrates for emerging photovoltaics and optoelectronics

-: Super-stretchable functionalized materials and fibers for third generation wearable technology

GoldTail: Towards Sustainable Gold Recovery from Tailings (GoldTail)

Raw Materials Research Infrastructure

Cite this

Controllable Production of Ag/Zn and Ag Particles from Hydrometallurgical Zinc Solutions

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Projects

SUBSTAINABLE: Multifunctional, high performance cellulose-based substrates for emerging photovoltaics and optoelectronics

-: Super-stretchable functionalized materials and fibers for third generation wearable technology

GoldTail: Towards Sustainable Gold Recovery from Tailings (GoldTail)

Equipment

Raw Materials Research Infrastructure

Cite this