ELECTROLYTIC RECOVERY OF NICKEL FROM INDUSTRIAL HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE OIL (GHEE) WASTE

Sirajuddin,^a* Lutfullah Kakakhel,^b Ghosia Lutfullah,^c and Rafi Ullah Marwat^d
a National Center of Excellence in Analytical Chemistry, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan
^b National Center of Excellence in Physical Chemistry University of Peshawar, NWFP, Pakistan
^c Center of Biotechnology, University of Peshawar, NWFP, Pakistan
^d Government Degree College, Laki Marwat, NWFP, Pakistan

Abstract
Solid waste of hydrogenated vegetable oil locally called ghee waste obtained from Bara Ghee Mills (pvt.) Ltd. Khyber Agency (tribal area) NWFP has been first de-oiled and then digested with 20% sulphuric acid in order to get the nickel dissolved into aqueous medium for electrolytic recovery.  A 65% nickel with metallic, magnetic and shining properties has been recovered at a cell potential of 3.7 V, pH, 3.8, and addition of 3.2 ml of 6M NH₃ using stainless steel static sheet electrodes as a result of just 15 minutes electrolytic deposition.

Key words: ghee waste, stanless steel electrodes, electrolytic nickel recovery.