This study explores fractional and simultaneous precipitation methods to recover metals from a synthetic solution containing the major components from lithium-ion battery recycling leachates: Co, Ni, Mn, Li, and H₂SO₄. Thermodynamic simulations analyzed the behavior of the metal-bearing solutions during hydroxide precipitation to guide process design. The fractional precipitation process was divided into three steps: pH-adjustment (D1), Co and Ni recovery (D2), and Mn recovery (D3). D2 achieved 89.7% Ni and 76.8% Co recovery; alongside Mn and Li were also removed (15% and 25% respectively). D3 showed mainly Mn recovery (68%) along with 18.7% Co and 7.3% Ni. Simultaneous precipitation resulted in over 99.7% recovery of Co, Ni, and Mn, with a small amount of Li (15%) being recovered from the solution. Na removal from the solution was observed across all experiments. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the phases formed were distinct from the predictions. Regardless of the presence of NH₄OH as a chelating agent in solution, a mixed nickel-cobalt-manganese oxide could be obtained after calcination. This approach offers a potentially less laborious method for recovering metals in products relevant to cathode precursors in a single step from recycling leachate.

The aim of this study was recovery of phosphorus (P) from marine sediment, and our results revealed the influence of P release from the sediment stimulated with different types and concentrations of carbon sources. During the 15-day anaerobic operation, the sediments stimulated with 1 g/L propionic acid and glucose exhibited more prominent effects compared to other trials, with 5.98 mg/L and 6.44 mg/L of P released, respectively, with a total solid content of 4 %. Notably, the excessive addition of carbon sources was shown to can partially inhibit P release. As microbial activity intensified, P was utilized for microbial synthesis, resulting in a decreased P in the supernatant. For example, in glucose-fed systems with concentrations of 5 g/L and 10 g/L, the P concentration decreased from 5 mg/L on Day 3 to approximately 3 mg/L on Day 15. The sequencing results indicated distinct evolutions within different carbon source-fed systems over the 15-day operations. Feeding high concentrations of glucose resulted in rapid enrichment of fermentative bacteria under anaerobic conditions, while sulfate-reducing bacteria promoted P release in volatile fatty acids-fed systems. Metabolic analysis revealed that carbon sources not only influence gene expression in different systems, but also impact the metabolic pathways involved in nutrient cycling, which can be interrelated. For example, a significant positive correlation was observed between the abundance of P and sulfur cycling functional genes (phoD, cysD).

The olive pomace oil is the principal by-product in the olive oil sector. Nonetheless, the production uses olive bagasse after the primary extraction, it also produces by-products and effluents that need a strategic approach to possible reuse and treatment. This study aimed at the characterization of the effluent from an olive pomace oil extractor industry and to investigate the application of physicochemical pre-treatments for future water reuse. The physicochemical characterization shows high amounts of BOD and COD for the effluent freshly produced (E1) and effluent collected from storage tanks(E2) in the industrial plant. Other parameters were evaluated: Phosphorus, Organic nitrogen and Ammonia, FOG, Phenolic compounds, Alkalinity, TS, TDS and TSS, and Biodegradability (Zahn-Wellens Test). E2 shows the storage tanks were able to reduce 55% of TS and TDS, 77.5% of COD and69% of BOD when compared with E1. Compared with the Portuguese legislation, these effluents cannot be discharged to water bodies and need treatments, such as coagulation and flocculation as tested in this work. Aluminium Sulphate was shown to work at best as a coagulant in the minimum concentration of 10 g/L and pH 5, RIFLOC F45 (4 mg/L) was used as a flocculant. After the treatment, it was observed a remotion of 95.6% of turbidity, 76,4%of COD,76,7% of TSS, and 85.4% of PhC when compared with E2. A sampling campaign was carried out on the Tua river to assess its water quality, and samples were taken at four different points to assess the impact of the effluent discharge, with none of the evaluated parameters presenting values higher than those recommended by the Law-Decree nº236/98 from the Portuguese Legislation.