RECOVERY OF MOLYBDENUM WITH SODIUM-CARBONATE SOLUTIONS FROM ORE OF THE YUZHNO-SHAMEISKY DEPOSIT

An alternative, integrated method for processing sulfide molybdenum concentrate to recover molybdenum and associated rhenium is proposed. The method involves oxidizing roasting without the release of sulfur dioxide, dust entrainment, and loss of valuable metals and two-stage leaching with selective dissolution of rhenium and, then, molybdenum. Molybdenum concentrate from the Yuzhno-Shameisky deposit was used as the feedstock. The concentrate was mixed with calcium hydroxide in a ratio of 1:1 by weight. Then the mixture was granulated and covered with a layer of calcium hydroxide. Oxidizing roasting was carried out in a tubular furnace at T = 600 degrees C for 80 min. After that, rhenium was recovered from the cinder using an aqueous solution. Further, molybdenum was recovered from the cake using sodium carbonate solutions at the following optimal parameters: T = 95 degrees C, tau = 180 min, S:L = 1:6, C-Na2CO3 = 200 g/dm(3), n = 8.3 sec(-1) (500 min(-1)). The main phases of the resulting cinder and cake were established. The optimal parameters of processing molybdenum concentrate at which the recovery of rhenium and molybdenum is 81% and 98%, respectively, were determined. The proposed technology is applicable to any grades of molybdenum concentrate.