Thabo Sibanda

MnCO₃ Precipitation from Industrial MnSO₄ Pregnant Leach Solutions

Qualifications

2022 BSc Chemical Engineering (University of Cape Town)

Project Description

Manganese carbonate (MnCO₃) is widely used in the production of ferromanganese and silicomanganese alloys, fertilizers, and wastewater treatment to eliminate heavy metal contaminants. Recent research has highlighted the potential of utilizing MnCO₃ as a cathode material for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries due to its high theoretical capacity and low cost compared to other materials. Their demand is expected to increase in the coming years due to the increasing adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), the growth of renewable energy, and the popularity of portable electronic devices. One such precursor is high-purity manganese sulphate (MnSO₄), which is typically obtained by leaching Mn ore to form a MnSO₄ Pregnant Leach Solution (PLS). However, the high levels of impurities in industrial MnSO₄ PLS render it unsuitable for use as a cathode precursor for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. This study aims to investigate the feasibility of producing high-purity MnCO₃ from industrial MnSO₄ PLS through precipitation.