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Cobalt
The name Cobalt originates from the German word “Kobold” which means evil spirits. The importance of cobalt’s use goes back to 2000 B.C as a colouring agent used by the Egyptian artisans. The colour bases and pigments of Cobalt were used in ancient times for making jewellery and paints. Miners have for many years used the name “kobold” ore when referring to minerals.
Cobalt is a lustrous, hard grey metal with a symbol Co and atomic number 27. Cobalt is a transition metal with a close packed hexagonal (CPH) crystal structure at room temperature. Cobalt is an essential trace element for all multi-cellular organisms and the active centre of coenzymes called cobalamins including vitamin B12 which is essential for mammals. Cobalt is a natural essential active nutrient for life, such as bacteria, algae and fungi. A deficiency of cobalt leads to anaemia, a lethal disorder. Anaemia secondary to cobalt deficiency is rare as trace elements of cobalt are found in most diets.
History
The use of Cobalt is traced back to 2000-3000 B.C. The term “Kobold” was associated with spirits (gnomes) who frequented the mines causing trouble. The trouble was traced back to the silver smelting which caused arsenic fumes which threatened the health of the miners. The primary use of Cobalt remains as a colouring agent which continued through to the 20th Century.
Cobalt is an important part of the composition of nearly all alloys developed since the 19th Century even though it is not as abundant as Copper and Nickel, it continues to be of considerable interest.
General Properties
Cobalt has many strategic and irreplaceable industrial uses. Cobalt has a high melting point and retains its strength to a high temperature. For this reason, Cobalt is often used for making cutting tools, super alloys, surface coating, high speed steels, cemented carbides and diamond tooling.
Cobalt Minerals
Cobalt is produced as a by-product of copper and nickel mining. Cobalt ranks as 33 in abundance so is not classed as a particularly rare metal. Cobalt can be found in various metallic-lustered ores such as cobaltite (CoAsS). Cobalt is widely distributed through the earth’s crust and can be found in several countries.
Cobalt Extraction
There are several methods used in Cobalt extraction from Copper and Nickel which depends on the concentration of cobalt and the composition of the ore used. Solution purification, which is the terms used for separating impurities from cobalt to produce a pure product is achieved by a means of chemical precipitation, solvent extraction, ion exchange and electro-winning. Cobalt properties can be maximized with its recovery from leaching solution, electro-winning bleed, smelting slag, sludge and residues.
Applications
Cobalt is not a rare or precious metal like Gold or Platinum, but is not abundant so does not exist in large quantities. As well as its use in a number of industrial products, Cobalt has been valued for centuries for its blue colour and was valued in its use to create beautiful deep blue glass, pottery, ceramics, tiles and as a pigment for paint.
When Cobalt is allied with other metals, very strong magnets are created. Super alloys containing Cobalt are used for energy generation and are used to produce jet engines and gas turbines. These super alloys account for nearly half of the Cobalt used each year. Rechargeable batteries being one of the fastest growing uses for Cobalt with the percentage use of Cobalt for this purpose rising to 25% in 2007.
Sources
The Democratic Republic of Congo is the main world producer of Cobalt. The Copper belt in the D.R of Congo and Zambia yields most of the worldwide-mined Cobalt. The other world producers are Russia, Australia, Canada, Finland, Cuba and Germany.
Types of Cobalt
Cobalt is extracted from a number of minerals, the main ones being cobaltite, CoAsS; smaltite, (CoNi)As3; linnaeite, Co3S4; and glaucodot, (CoFe)AsS.
All commercial cobalt is obtained as a by-product of other metals, usually associated with other ores, such as copper. The Democratic Republic of Congo is the largest producer of cobalt, and it is obtained there as a by-product of the copper industry.