Effect of surface structure on the catalytic behavior of Ni:Cu/Al and Ni:Cu:K/Al catalysts for methane decomposition

Methane decomposition using nickel, copper, and aluminum （Ni：Cu/Al） and nickel, copper, potassium, and aluminum （Ni：Cu：K/Al） modified nano catalysts has been investigated for carbon fibers, hydrogen and hydrocarbon production. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy （XPS）, static secondary ion mass spectrometry （SSIMS）, thermal gravimetric analysis （TGA）, Fourier transform infrared （FT-IR）, secondary electron microscopy/X-ray energy dispersive （SEM-EDX）, and temperature programmed desorption （TPD） were used to depict the chemistry of the catalytic results. These techniques revealed the changes in surface morphology and structure of Ni, Cu, Al, and K, and formation of bimetallic and trimetallic surface cationic sites with different cationic species, which resulted in the production of graphitic form of pure carbon on Ni：Cu/Al catalyst. The addition of K has a marked effect on the product selectivity and reactivity of the catalyst system. K addition restricts the formation of carbon on the surface and increases the production of hydrogen and C2, C3 hydrocarbons during the catalytic reaction whereas no hydrocarbons are produced on the sample without K. This study completely maps the modified surface structure and its relationship with the catalytic behavior of both systems. The process provides a flexible route for the production of carbon fibers and hydrogen on Ni：Cu/Al catalyst and hydrogen along with hydrocarbons on Ni：Cu：K/Al catalyst. The produced carbon fibers are imaged using a transmission electron microscope （TEM） for diameter size and wall structure determination. Hydrogen produced is COx free, which can be used directly in the fuel cell system. The effect of the addition of Cu and its transformation and interaction with Ni and K is responsible for the production of CO/CO2 free hydrogen, thus producing an environmental friendly clean energy.

Impact of silver sulphides on gold cyanidation with polymetal sulphides

Gold leaching was influenced in association with silver and polymetal sulphide minerals.A packed bed was adopted to single out the galvanic and passivation effects with four sets of minerals:pyrite?silica,chalcopyrite?silica,sphalerite?silica and stibnite?silica.Pyrargyrite enhanced Au recovery to 77.3%and 51.2%under galvanic and passivation effects from pyrite(vs 74.6%and 15.8%).Pyrargyrite in association with sphalerite also enhanced Au recovery to 6.6%and 51.9%(vs 1.6%and 15.6%)under galvanic and passivation effects from sphalerite.Pyrargyrite associated with chalcopyrite retarded gold recovery to 38.0%and 12.1%(vs 57%and 14.1%)under galvanic and passivation effects.Accumulative silver minerals enhanced Au recovery to 90.6%and 81.1%(vs 74.6%and 15.8%)under galvanic and passivation impacts from pyrite.Silver minerals with sphalerite under galvanic and passivation effects enhanced Au recovery to 71.1%and 80.5%(vs 1.6%and 15.6%).Silver minerals associated with chalcopyrite retarded Au recovery to 10.2%and 4.5%under galvanic and passivation impacts(vs 57%and 14.1%).Stibnite retarded Au dissolution with pyrargyrite and accumulative silver minerals.Pyrargyrite and accumulative silver enhanced gold dissolution for free gold and gold associated with pyrite and sphalerite.Gold dissolution was retarded for gold and silver minerals associated with chalcopyrite and stibnite.

Selective dissolution of rare-earth element carbonates in deep eutectic solvents

Dissolution in choline-chloride based deep eutectic solvents(DES) of rare earth elements(REE) from high-purity single carbonate salts of Y, La, Ce, Nd and Sm and from their multicomponent mixtures and also bastn€asite mineral was assessed with a prospect to gain an understanding on the leaching behavior of bastn€asite ores as REE source from DES suspensions. Urea, malonic acid and citric acid were used in different proportions with choline chloride in order to form deep eutectic solvents with desired viscosity and functionality. The results obtained prove promising for use insolvato-metallurgical processes in terms of selective dissolution of the higher-atomic-number(Z) rare earth elements at the expense of the lower-ZREEs and the gangue-originating metal impurities, thus initiating separation among the different REE members from the early hydrometallurgical steps.