Leaching Co(II), Mo(VI), and Al(III) Ions from Spent Catalyst Co-Mo/γ–Al2O3 using Organic Acid

  • Clara Anindya Amaranggani Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Technology, Parahyangan Catholic University, Bandung, Indonesia
  • Ratna Frida Susanti Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Technology, Parahyangan Catholic University, Bandung, Indonesia
  • Anastasia Prima Kristijarti Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Technology, Parahyangan Catholic University, Bandung, Indonesia
  • Widi Astuti Research Center for Mining Technology, National Research and Innovation Agency, Tanjung Bintang, Indonesia
  • Himawan Tri Bayu Murti Petrus Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
  • Kevin Cleary Wanta Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Technology, Parahyangan Catholic University, Bandung, Indonesia
Keywords: Aluminum, Cobalt, Leaching, Molybdenum, Organic Acid, Spent Catalyst

Abstract

The disposal of spent catalysts must be managed to prevent environmental pollution caused by the heavy metal content in the material. This work investigates the leaching performance of spent catalyst Co-Mo/γ–Al2O3 using an organic acid as the solvent. The leaching process was designed by varying several operating conditions. The particle size was varied at -40+80, -80+120, and -200 mesh, while pulp density was varied at 5, 10, and 20% (wt/v). This experiment used four types of acid, i.e., citric acid, lactic acid, formic acid, and acetic acid. This operation lasted 22 days. The sampling process was conducted periodically during the leaching process. Among the four investigated organic acids, lactic acid provided the highest metal ion recovery. Under that operating condition, the recovery percentage of Co(II), Mo(VI), and Al(III) ions was 50.81, 67.68, and 58.00%, respectively. Furthermore, this work also observed the applicable mechanism during the leaching process through a kinetic study. That study showed that the internal diffusion and chemical reaction steps simultaneously controlled the leaching rate.

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Published
2025-12-31
How to Cite
Amaranggani, C. A., Susanti, R. F., Kristijarti, A. P., Astuti, W., Petrus, H. T. B. M., & Wanta, K. C. (2025). Leaching Co(II), Mo(VI), and Al(III) Ions from Spent Catalyst Co-Mo/γ–Al2O3 using Organic Acid. ASEAN Journal of Chemical Engineering, 25(3), 536-549. https://doi.org/10.22146/ajche.21021
Section
Articles