Sustainable Production of Nickel

Prelims – General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change.

Mains – General Studies-III (Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment)

Why in news?

A recent study by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials, Germany, has introduced a new, carbon-free method of extracting nickel using hydrogen plasma, offering a cleaner and faster alternative to traditional methods.

• Nickel – Nickel (Ni) is a silvery-white metal used in various industries.
• It is the fifth most common element on earth and occurs extensively in the earth’s crust and core.
• Nickel, along with iron, is also a common element in meteorites.
• Nickel occurs naturally in soil and water.
• It is also an essential nutrient for plants.

Significance of Nickel

• Electric Vehicles (EVs) – Nickel is a key component in lithium-ion batteries, which power EVs.
• As the world transitions to cleaner transportation, the demand for nickel in this sector is skyrocketing.
• Renewable Energy – It is used in various renewable energy technologies, including solar panels and wind turbines.
• Stainless Steel and Alloys – Nickel is a primary alloying element in stainless steel, providing enhanced durability and corrosion resistance.
• It is also used in other specialized alloys.
• Gadgets and Electronics – From smartphones to laptops, nickel finds its way into numerous electronic devices.

Conventional Extraction Process of Nickel

• Calcination – Heating the ore to remove moisture and other impurities.
• Smelting – Melting the ore at high temperatures, often using carbon as a reducing agent.
• Reduction – Further reactions with carbon to separate nickel from its oxides.
• Refining – Purifying the nickel to achieve the desired grade.

New Hydrogen Plasma Method

• This new approach offers a one-step, carbon-free process.
• Replacing Carbon with Hydrogen – Instead of using carbon as a reducing agent, this method utilizes hydrogen (H2​) gas.
• Hydrogen Plasma – The key innovation lies in using hydrogen plasma. When hydrogen gas is subjected to high-energy electrons in an electric arc, it transforms into a plasma state, an extremely hot and reactive "fourth state of matter."
• Rapid Reduction – This highly reactive hydrogen plasma rapidly reduces metal oxides in the ore.
• Carbon-Free Process – The reaction of hydrogen with oxygen in the ore produces water (H2​O) as a byproduct, rather than carbon dioxide.
• Energy and Time Efficient – The proposed method is significantly more energy-efficient (up to 18% savings) and faster than traditional methods, while cutting direct CO2​emissions by up to 84%.
• Utilizing Low-Grade Ores – Crucially, this technology efficiently extracts nickel from laterite ores, which are abundant but difficult to process with conventional methods.
• Laterite ores are formed in hot, tropical regions and are becoming increasingly important as higher-grade sulphide ores deplete.

Reference

The Hindu | Sustainable Production of Nickel