Separation and Characterization of Nickel Hydroxide from Waste Solution Using Ca(OH)2 Precipitation in Chloride Media

Abstract

Nickel hydroxide (Ni(OH)2) is a valuable compound derived from nickel, widely utilized across various fields because of its versatile properties. This study aimed to characterize as-prepared β-Ni(OH)2 via chemical precipitation using various analytical techniques. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the formation of a β-Ni(OH)2 hexagonal crystalline structure, validating the successful precipitation. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra exhibited main characteristic peaks of (υOH) and υ(NiO), corresponding to the formation of nickel hydroxide (Ni(OH)2). Subsequently, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) revealed a prominent peak for Ni2+ oxidation, confirming the successful precipitation of nickel hydroxide at pH 6.5, which identifies the existence of impurities, such as chlorine and calcium, from the waste matrix. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs demonstrated stratified granules with a nearly pure brucite crystalline phase, typical of β-Ni(OH)2. Furthermore, the surface morphology revealed a coarse texture and uneven clustering, suggesting possible elevated oxide levels on the Ni surface. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) confirmed the presence of nickel (Ni) and oxygen (O), with Ca impurities attributed to the chemical precipitation process. Particle size distribution analysis estimated an average particle size of 2.0 µm. Additionally, the precipitation of nickel was investigated using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Ni was observed in decreasing order, 62.7 g/L, 0.8 g/L, and 0.501 g/L in the pregnant leach, precursor solution, and solid precipitate (cake), respectively. The separation of Ni(OH)2 through the precipitation process from the waste (acidic chloride media) enabled efficient recycling and re-use of nickel, which provides a cost-effective and environmentally friendly method for the highly efficient utilization of waste (acidic chloride media).