Why is cobalt expensive?

Answer 1

The reason why cobalt is expensive can be narrowed down to three points.

Cobalt is industrially produced as a byproduct of Copper and Nickel manufacture, which means that the volume produced is relatively small than say if your were producing steel from iron ore. So this limits supply.

Although much of the world's Co is produced by the Democratic Republic of Congo and indeed they house our largest reserves of the stuff (3.4 million tonnes - almost half of our total reserves) it is refined mostly in China. This of course introduces cost of transporting the material from one continent to another in order to obtain a final product.

Lastly, demand for Co has recently increased for use in lithium ion batteries as a substitute for phosphates. It is environmentally beneficial to make this substitution because if suplhates escape into our environment they can disrupt aquatic life by increasing the number of algae - which absorb oxygen - hence reducing the amount of oxygen available for other living creatures in the water e.g. fish hence causing them to die.

To summarise, reason for high price:

1. Increase in demand for use in Lithium ion batteries

2. Costs of transporting Co long distances for refinement

3. Low supply of Co because it is made as a byproduct of Nickel and Cu

Answer 2

Cobalt-60 is used in many common industrial applications, such as in leveling devices and thickness gauges, and in radiotherapy in hospitals. Large sources of cobalt-60 are increasingly used for sterilization of spices and certain foods. The powerful gamma rays kill bacteria and other pathogens, without damaging the product. After the radiation ceases, the product is not left radioactive. This process is sometimes called "cold pasteurisation." Cobalt-60 is also used for industrial radiography, a process similar to an x-ray, to detect structural flaws in metal parts. One of its uses is in a medical device for the precise treatment of otherwise inoperable deformities of blood vessels and brain tumors. Radionuclides, such as cobalt-60, that are used in industry or medical treatment are encased in shielded metal containers or housings, and are referred to as radiation 'sources.' The shielding keeps operators from being exposed to the strong radiation.

Answer 3

because it is used to make gold

Answer 4

Can CO be extracted from cobalt glass?