Bacterial leaching of low-grade ZnS concentrate using indigenous mesophilic and thermophilic strains

In this study low-grade sphalerite has been treated by the bioleaching process using native cultures of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and Sulfobacillus thermosulfido-oxidans in order to determine the ability of these bacteria to the leaching of zinc. The effects of bacterial strain, pH, temperature, pulp density, iron precipitation, and initial concentration of ferric iron on the zinc leaching were evaluated. The bioleaching experiments were carried out in shake flasks at pH 1.5, 180 rpm, 33 °C and 60 °C for mesophilic and thermophilic bacteria, respectively. Compared with the use of laboratory reference strains or control conditions, zinc recovery from the respective concentrate was greater when native isolates were employed. The experimental data show that the selection of the suitable pH and temperature during the bioleaching processes would be important. The results indicate that the increase in pulp density generates a decrease in the dissolved zinc concentration. The maximum zinc extraction reached was 87% using native thermophile S. thermosulfido-oxidans culture after 30 days.     

Dissolution of uranium from silicate-apatite ore by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans

Bioleaching of a low-grade Indian silicate-apatite uranium ore containing 0.024% U₃O₈ and 10.6% iron with minor amounts of base metals has been reported. The studies involved extraction of uranium using enriched culture containing Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans (A. ferrooxidans) derived from the source mine water employing bio-chemically generated ferric ion as an oxidant. Parameters such as particle size of the ore, pulp density, and pH of lixiviant media were optimised. Maximum uranium bio-dissolution of 98% was achieved using ore of mixed particles of < 76 μm size. Uranium bio-recovery was found to be 96% at the pulp density (PD) of 10% (w/v) and 20% (w/v) with the particles of < 76 μm size in 40 days at 2.0 pH and 35 °C temperature. At 1.7 pH and 20% (w/v) PD, 98% uranium bio-recovery was achieved with a rise in redox potential from 595 mV to 715 mV in 40 days. Uranium bio-dissolution may be correlated with the generation of ferric ions through the bio-chemical action on the ore. The work illustrated the efficacy of leaching of uranium by the involvement of bacteria by indirect mechanism.     

Bacterial leaching of nickel laterites using chemolithotrophic microorganisms: Process optimisation using response surface methodology and central composite rotatable design

The depletion of easily processed nickel sulphides and demand for the nickel metal pose a challenge of finding new effective methods for nickel recovery from low grade ores. Solving these problems successfully requires optimisation of the processes. In this study, a statistically-based optimisation strategy has been used in the optimisation of pH, pulp density and particle sizes during the bacterial leaching of nickel laterites using a mixed culture of chemolithotrophic bacteria (Acidithiobacilllus ferrooxidans, Acidithiobacillus caldus and Leptospirillum ferroxidans). The central composite rotatable design (CCRD) was used to collect the data for fitting the second order response. A mathematical model equation was then derived by computer simulation programming applying least squares method using MATLAB R2006a. This second order model representing the nickel recovery from nickel laterite ore is expressed as a function of the three variables (pH, particle size, and pulp density). A statistical analysis (ANOVA) was carried out to study the effects of the individual variables as well as their combined interactive effects on the recovery of nickel. The results showed that the effects of the individual variables and their quadratic terms were statistically significant whilst the interactions among the variables were statistically insignificant. Response surface plots drawn for spatial representation of the model showed that the nickel recovery depends more on particle size than on pH and pulp density. Using the model, optimised values of 2.6% pulp density, initial pH of 2.0 and 63 μm particle size resulted in a nickel recovery of 79.8%. Confirmatory test at these optimum conditions resulted in a nickel recovery of 74.1%; thus verifying that the model is valid and plausibly fits the experimental data with a marginal error of 7.7%. The significance of this study is that it has opened up an opportunity for the potential application of chemolithotrophic microorganisms for the commercial processing of the difficult-to-process low grade nickel laterite ores. Some of the examples where this process may be applied include silicate ores, oxidic converter furnace slags and refractory oxides.     

Column bioleaching of a low grade nickel-bearing sulfide ore containing high magnesium as olivine,chlorite and antigorite

This work investigates the bioleaching of Jinchuan low grade nickel-bearing sulfide ore containing rather high levels of olivine, chlorite and antigorite (MgO 30–35%) present in the main gangue minerals using a mixed mesophiles which are composed of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans. It aims to test the technical feasibility to recover valuable metals from Jinchuan low-grade nickel-bearing sulfide ore by bioleaching process. The tolerance of the mixed bacteria to Mg²⁺ could be improved markedly from 10 g/L to 25 g/L after nearly 2 years adaptation. A nickel recovery of 91% and a cobalt recovery of 81% were achieved in 312 days column leaching process including 60 days acid pre-leaching stage and 252 days bioleaching stage.     

Kinetics of leaching chalcopyrite-bearing waste rock with thermophilic and mesophilic bacteria

The leaching characteristics and kinetics of a thermophilic, chemolithotrophic microorganism were studied and compared with those of mesophilic T. ferrooxidans. Chalcopyrite waste rock was used for laboratory scale shake flask leaching systems. The optimum (leaching) temperatures were determined to be between 30 and 40°C for Thiobacillus ferrooxidans and between 50 and 60°C for the thermophiles. The thermophilic microorganisms were observed to function as a kind of take-over organism with increasing temperature. Viable cell counts (most probable number measurements) for both microorganisms were observed to be highly correlated with total copper in solution after 6 weeks of leaching, and over a range of temperatures (20–70°C). Observations by scanning electron microscopy showed the bulk of precipitates formed during leaching were comprised of gypsum crystals, and that thermophilic organisms were attached in profusion to some mineral surfaces seen by X-ray energy dispersive analysis to be somewhat uniformly coated with a thin sulfur layer. The propensity for attachment of the thermophiles as compared with T. ferrooxidans was consistent with observations of other thermophilic microbes. The reaction order for T. ferrooxidans was 0.92, compared with 1.29 for the thermophilic microorganisms. Correspondingly, the activation energy for the thermophiles was 26.77 kcal mole^? compared with 22.22 kcal mole^?1 and 7.11 kcal mole^?1 for the T. ferrooxidans and sterile control reactions, respectively. The rate of reaction increased by 1.93 for each 10°C temperature increase for the thermophiles, compared with 1.83 for T. ferrooxidans.     

Role of ferric ions in bioleaching of uranium from low tenor Indian ore

Abstract

The role of biogenic ferric ions in leaching of uranium by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans from a low grade ore of Turamdih mines, India, has been investigated. Using the enriched culture of bacterial isolate containing mainly A. ferrooxidans from the source mine water, biorecovery of 98% uranium at 20% (w/v) pulp density, pH 1·7 and 35°C temperature using <76 μm particles in 40 days was obtained. The effect of temperature on bioleaching of uranium showed higher recovery at 35°C. The uranium dissolution was facilitated by iron(III) available in the leach liquor because of bacterial oxidation of pyrite and chemical dissolution of magnetite present in the ore under acidic conditions. The biogenically generated Fe(III) ions enhanced uranium dissolution from the uraninite ore. The bioleaching of uranium appeared to follow a chemical control kinetic model with the reaction of lixiviant, Fe(III) and acid on the surface of the solid in the temperature range 25–35°C. Phase identification by XRD and the study of surface morphology of the ore and the residue by SEM study corroborated the above mechanism of uranium leaching.

On a étudié le rôle des ions ferriques biogènes dans la lixiviation de l’uranium par A. ferrooxidans d’un minerai pauvre des mines de Turamdih, en Inde. En utilisant la culture enrichie d’isolat bactérien contenant principalement Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans de l’eau de source de la mine, on a obtenu une biorécupération de 98% d’uranium à 20% de densité de la pulpe (poids/vol), avec un pH de 1·7 et une température de 35°C, en utilisant des particules de <76 μm, en 40 jours. L’effet de la température sur la biolixiviation de l’uranium montrait une récupération plus élevée à 35°C. La dissolution de l’uranium était facilitée par le fer(III), disponible dans la liqueur de lixiviat grâce à l’oxydation bactérienne de la pyrite et à la dissolution chimique de la magnétite présentes dans le minerai en conditions acides. Les ions Fe(III) engendrés biogéniquement augmentaient la dissolution de l’uranium du minerai d’uraninite. La biolixiviation de l’uranium semblait suivre un modèle cinétique à contrôle chimique avec la réaction du lixiviant – Fe(III) et de l’acide à la surface du solide dans la gamme de température de 25 à 35°C. L’identification de phase par XRD et l’étude de la morphologie de la surface du minerai et du résidu par étude au SEM corroboraient le mécanisme ci-dessus de lixiviation de l’uranium.     

Utilisation of native microbes from a spent chalcocite test heap

A variety of acidophilic iron and/or sulphur-oxidising microbes capable of growth on several substrates (chalcopyrite, pyrite, ferrous ion, sulphur, glucose) in the range 30–60 °C were recovered from a spent chalcocite/chalcopyrite/pyrite heap. Several isolates exhibited tolerance to salt, up to 5 g/L NaCl, and to the metals nickel, cobalt, zinc and copper at up to 50 g/L.Leaching tests on chalcopyrite concentrate indicated higher copper yields when native isolates were employed, compared with the laboratory reference strains Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans (DSM 583) and Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans (DSM 9293). After 30 days, several native isolates had leached 20–30% more copper than the abiotic controls during experiments conducted at 45 °C. The results demonstrate that the native isolates are potential bioleaching candidates, adapted to diverse growth conditions.     

Rapid and specific detection of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and Leptospirillum ferrooxidans by PCR

Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and Leptospirillum ferrooxidans are two of the most important bacteria in heap bioleaching processes of copper sulphide at common operating temperatures (18–24 °C). In this paper, both microorganisms were detected in solutions and ores coming from processes in 2 days, using specific amplification of 16S rDNA sequences by PCR. The technique was first validated using template DNA from pure cultures of the microorganisms. Then it was applied to samples of solutions and ores from bioleaching processes. Results were confirmed using tRFLP (terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism) with universal primers and by identification of isolated bacteria by means of culture. This methodology is more rapid and specific than the identification by tRFLP or by culture, which require from 1 to three weeks to positively detect the bacteria. The detection limit of this technique is 10⁵ cells per ml.     

Preconcentration of Nickel Values from Lateritic Chromite Ore Overburden,Sukinda, Orissa,India

The nickeliferrous chromite ore overburden of Sukinda, Orissa, contains about 0.55% Ni, and forms an important resource for nickel in India. This deposit has hitherto evaded exploitation because of its lean grade and complex mineralogy. The techno-economics of the metallurgical extraction process developed for recovering nickel from this laterite requires a minimum of 1% Ni; hence there is need for preconcentration. This paper presents the results of batch and semi continuous pilot plant scale preconcentration studies carried out on a representative overburden sample. Two alternative flowsheets involving classification and classification-flotation were developed for preconcentrating the nickel rich iron oxide fines (?37 µm). The first flowsheet gave preconcentrate analysing 1% Ni with 50% recovery and with the use of a hydrocyclone of d₅₀(, =30 µm, it should be possible to increase the recovery to > 60%. The second flowsheet gave a preconcentrate analysing 1% Ni with 65% recovery.     

Electrochemical study of enargite bioleaching by mesophilic and thermophilic microorganisms

The bioleaching effects of two microorganisms on two different enargite (Cu₃AsS₄) minerals have been followed by solution titration and rest potential measurements and studied by cyclic voltammetry. The investigation focused on the superficial modifications produced in the minerals by the activity of the mesophilic bacterium Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans at 35 °C and the thermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus sp. at 68 °C after 3 and 12 days of attack, comparing the modified surfaces with that of untreated samples. The electrochemical characterization of all the electrodes was done by means of potentiometric assays performed under the same conditions: acidulated deionized water as electrolyte (pH 2.0), and temperature of 26 ± 2 °C. Additionally, a comparative SEM and EDX study of untreated and biotreated samples was carried out.     

Reduction-roasting and ferric chloride leaching of copper converter slag for extracting copper,nickel and cobalt values

In a previous investigation the optimum conditions for recovering copper, nickel and cobalt from converter slag through ferric chloride leaching have been described. The study of various parameters revealed that nickel and cobalt recovery could not be improved beyond 24 to 26% respectively from converter slag, though more than 90% of the copper could be extracted. Further attempts were made to bring the metal values completely into solution through reduction-roasting followed by ferric chloride leaching of the slag. The present work comprises a study of various experimental conditions such as concentration of ferric chloride, duration of leaching, duration of reduction-roasting, temperature and nature of reducing agent, to arrive at the optimal recovery of the metal. Under identical experimental conditions a decrease in copper recovery, but an increase in nickel and cobalt recovery has been observed above a roasting temperature of 750°C. The decrease in copper recovery has been attributed to copper ferrite formation which has been confirmed both by leaching experiments with synthetic mixtures and by X-ray diffraction studies with both slag samples and synthetic mixtures. Recovery of nickel has also shown little decline when solid reductants were used above 850°C whereas cobalt recovery remains nearly the same even above 850°C. Under optimum conditions 80% copper, 95% nickel and 80% cobalt could be recovered by reducing the slag at 850°C with 10 wt % furnace oil, followed by leaching with ferric chloride.     

Recovery of germanium and other valuable metals from zinc plant residues

The main purpose of this study was to characterize and to extract germanium from the copper cake of Çinkur Zinc Plant. The physical, chemical and mineralogical characterization of the ground copper cake sample obtained from Çinkur showed that it was 84% below 147 μm containing 700 ppm germanium. The copper cake also contained 15.33% Cu, 15.63% Zn, 1.66% Cd, 1.33% Ni, 0.64% Co, 0.35% Fe, 2.62% Pb, 12.6% As, 0.18% Sb and 3.42% SiO₂. The mineralogical analysis indicated the complex nature of the copper cake which was mainly composed of metallic and oxidized phases containing copper, arsenic, zinc, cadmium, etc. The sulfuric acid leaching experiments were performed under the laboratory conditions. The optimum collective extraction of germanium and other valuable metals was obtained at a temperature range 60 to 85 °C for a leaching duration of 1 h with sulfuric acid concentration of 150 gpl and using a solid–liquid ratio 1/8 g/cc. Under these conditions, the recovery of germanium was 92.7% while the other metals were leached almost completely. The optimum selective leaching conditions of germanium was determined as half an hour leach duration, 1/8 g/cc solid–liquid ratio, 100 gpl sulfuric acid concentration and a temperature range 40 to 60 °C. Under these conditions the leach recovery of germanium was 78%. The dissolution's of other metals like cobalt, nickel, iron, copper, cadmium and arsenic were almost low. So, germanium would be separated more selectively at the following precipitation by tannin stage.     

The kinetics of the sulphuric acid leaching of nickel and magnesium from reduction roasted serpentine

Nickel may be extracted with partial selectivity over magnesium from laterites containing serpentine by reduction roasting followed by sulphuric acid leaching. This paper describes the results of a kinetic study of the sulphuric acid leaching of nickel and magnesium from the reduction roasted serpentine component of a typical laterite. The serpentine used in this work analyzed 1.65% nickel, 20.2% magnesium and 6.10% iron.Initially, leaches were carried out at temperatures of 30, 50 and 70° C to determine the acid requirement for complete nickel extraction using practical leaching conditions (25% solids) under which the acidity drops to a low level. A minimum acid addition of 60 g/l was needed, which gave 80% to 83% nickel extraction from material in which 85% of the nickel was reduced using hydrogen at 700° C. Under these conditions, about 17% of the magnesium was leached at each of the temperatures studied.To facilitate an understanding of leaching kinetics, leaches were then performed using constant acidities (0.1% solids) of 60, 30 and 15 g/l acid at temperatures of 30, 50 and 70° C. Closely sized particles (?65 + 100 mesh) were leached so that magnesium dissolution rates could be tested against established “shrinking core” models.The main conclusions are that, under the experimental conditions, nickel dissolution rates were chemically controlled by either $\text{2}\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{1}\text{2}\text{O}{}_2\text{+ 2e →}\text{H}{}_2\text{O}$ or 2 H⁺ + 2e → H₂ occurring at the surfaces of the 40% nickel/iron alloy platelets formed during reduction. The rate controlling process had an activation energy of 11kcal/mole.During extraction of metallic nickel, the dissolution of magnesium follows a “shrinking core” kinetic model, which assumes the reaction is unimpeded by a surface layer of silica - a reaction product. Rates of magnesium dissolution during this stage of the reaction (up to 25% dissolved) were chemically controlled with an activation energy of 12 kcal/mole.At magnesium extractions above 25%, at which point all the metallic nickel had been extracted, the rate of silicate attack was limited by diffusion through a silica coating attached to particle surfaces.The results indicate that selectivity for nickel dissolution over that of magnesium does not depend strongly on acidity and temperature at the levels investigated.     

Dissolution Kinetics of Iron from Low-Grade Mn Ore and Optimization Using Response Surface Methodology

In this study an attempt has been made to increase Mn/Fe ratio in dump Manganese ore fines so that it can be used for the production of ferromanganese. For this purpose non-coking coal was used as reductant and dilute hydrochloric acid as leaching medium for the roasted ore. The effects of acid strength, leaching time, leaching temperature, stirring speed, ore particle size and pulp density have been studied. The dissolution of iron follows the kinetic model 1 ? 2x/3 ? (1 ? x)^2/3 = k_dt. Thus product layer diffusion is the controlling mechanism and the activation energy has been determined to be 26.23 kJ/mol at 40–95 °C. Another set of experiments have been conducted according to 2³ full factorial design, and regression equation for iron dissolution has been developed.     

Decomposition of mixed rare earth concentrate by NaOH roasting and kinetics of hydrochloric acid leaching process

A new clean extraction technology for the decomposition of Bayan Obo mixed rare earth concentrate by NaOH roasting is proposed.The process mainly includes NaOH roasting to decompose rare earth concentrate and HCl leaching roasted ore.The effects of roasting temperature,roasting time,NaOH addition amount on the extraction of rare earth and factors such as HCl concentration,liquid-solid ratio,leaching temperature and leaching time on the dissolution kinetics of roasted ore were studied.The experimental results show that when the roasting temperature is 550℃ and the roasting time is 60 min,the mass ratio of NaOH:rare earth concentrate is 0.60:1,the concentration of HCl is 6.0 mol/L,the ratio of liquid to solid(L/S) 6.0:1.0,and the leaching temperature 90℃,leaching time 45 min,stirring speed 200 r/min,and the extraction of rare earth can reach 92.5%.The relevant experimental data show that the process of HCl leaching roasted ore conforms to the shrinking core model,but the control mechanism of the che mical reaction process is different when the leaching temperature is different.When the leaching temperature is between 40 and 70℃,the chemical reaction process is controlled by the diffusion of the product through the residual layer of the inert material.The average surface activation energy of the rare earth element is E_a=9.96 kJ/mol.When the leaching temperature is 75-90℃,the chemical reaction process is controlled by the interface transfer across the product layer(product layer interface mass transfer) and diffusion.The average surface activation energy of rare earth elements is E_a=41.65 kJ/mol.The results of this study have certain significance for the green extraction of mixed rare earth ore.     

Bioleaching of apatite rich low grade Indian uranium ore

Abstract

Uranium ore from Narwapahar Mines, UCIL contains 0·047% U₃O₈ with some refractory minerals and high apatite (5%) results in a maximum 78% recovery through conventional processing at UCIL, with a fairly high consumption of sulphuric acid and pyrolusite, and loss of uranium as uranium phosphate. To avoid usage of non-ecofriendly oxidants, obviate the influence of phosphate and improve the overall process output of uranium, an alternate extraction technology using microbial isolate(s) is elucidated in this study. A. ferrooxidans isolated from Narwapahar mine water was used in bioleaching of uranium from this apatite rich low grade uraninite ore. Optimum uranium biorecovery of 96% is achieved at 10% pulp density (w/v), pH 1·7 and 35°C in 40 days with the fine particles of <45 μm size. Under the optimum condition at pH 1·7, rise in redox potential is recorded to be 594–708 mV in 40 days. Bioleaching of uranium seems to follow the indirect mechanism of leaching with the involvement of Fe(III) biogenically generated by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans (A. ferrooxidans). Uranium recovery was also examined using another mesophilic isolate of Leptospirillum ferrooxidans (L. ferrooxidans) which showed 98% uranium leaching at 40°C, which shows the possibility of improving the kinetics of the process. The high R² values in the temperature range (298–308 K) indicated uranium dissolution by the chemical reaction occurring at the ore surface with Fe(III) generated biogenically, with E_a value of 28·3 kJ mol^?1. The mechanism of uranium bioleaching is also elucidated with X-ray diffraction phase identification of the leach residues with time, followed by observing the surface morphology through SEM at varying temperatures.

Le minerai d’uranium des Mines de Narwapahar, d’UCIL, contient 0·047% d’U₃O₈ avec quelques minéraux réfractaires et une teneur élevée en apatite (5%). On note une récupération maximale de 78% par traitement conventionnel à UCIL, avec une consommation relativement élevée d’acide sulfurique et de pyrolusite, ainsi qu’une perte d’uranium sous forme de phosphate d’uranium. Afin d’éviter l’utilisation d’agents oxydants non écologiques, de prévenir l’influence du phosphate, et d’améliorer la production globale d’uranium du procédé, dans cette étude on examine une autre technologie d’extraction utilisant un (des) isolat(s) microbien(s). On a utilisé A. ferrooxidans, isolée de l’eau de mine de Narwapahar, pour la biolixiviation de l’uranium de ce minerai pauvre en uraninite et riche en apatite. La bio récupération optimale de l’uranium de 96% est obtenue à 10% PD (poids/volume) au pH de 1·7 et à 35°C en 40 jours avec les particules fines d’une taille <45 μm. Sous la condition optimale d’un pH de 1·7, on a enregistré l’augmentation du potentiel rédox à 594–708 mV en 40 jours. La biolixiviation de l’uranium semble suivre le mécanisme indirect de lixiviation avec l’implication de Fe(III) engendré bio génétiquement par A. ferrooxidans. On a également examiné la récupération de l’uranium en utilisant un autre isolat mésophile de L. ferrooxidans, qui a montré une lixiviation de 98% de l’uranium à 40°C, ce qui montre la possibilité d’améliorer la cinétique du procédé. Les valeurs élevées de R² dans la gamme de température (298–308 K) indiquaient que la dissolution de l’uranium par réaction chimique se produisait à la surface du minerai avec Fe(III) engendré bio génétiquement, à une valeur de Ea de 28·3 kJ mol^?1. Le mécanisme de biolixiviation de l’uranium est également examiné avec l’identification de phase par XRD des résidus de lixiviat en fonction du temps, suivi par l’observation de la morphologie de la surface au moyen du SEM, à des températures variées.     

Effect of pre-roasting on leaching of laterite

The effect of pre-roasting on leaching of the gamierite laterite ore, obtained from Yunnan province, China, was investigated in this study. The phase transformation of laterite minerals roasted at different temperatures was investigated with X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). The roasting experiment results show that there are two phase transformation processes of dehydroxylation of goethite and lizardite at roasting temperatures of 277 °C and 610 °C, respectively, which accord with the result of DTA–TG analysis. Pre-roasting of the laterite not only alters its mineralogical composition but also increases its porosity and surface area, thus making it more amenable to leaching. Compared to the leaching result of raw ore and ores roasted at different temperatures, it indicates that increasing roasting temperature up to 300 °C appears to provide the optimum nickel recovery and further heating appears to be detrimental to the nickel recovery.     

Thermodynamic Aspects of the Roasting Processes in the Pre-treatment of Nickelferrous Garnierites

Abstract

The chemistry of pre-calcination and reduction roast processes with H₂ + H₂O gaseous mixture was analyzed, in order to find the best nickel and cobalt recoveries after selective roasting of nickelferrous laterites

A thermodynamic analysis of the pre-reduction of garnieritic ores aiming NiO and CoO reduction showed that the low NiO activity in the ore demands highly aggressive reducing conditions to attain reasonable nickel recoveries. Between 650-850°C, the highest nickel recoveries through amoniacal leaching was obtained at 750°C with 60% H₂ + 40% H₂0. Tests at 900°C revealed an unexpected high nickel recovery probably due to the presence of metallic iron which acted as a solvent for metallic nickel, favoring in consequence its metallization.     

Investigation of the Effects of some Parameters in the Production of Chromate from Chromite Ores in Iskenderun Region

The conversion of chromite ore from iskenderun region into chromate was investigated. Firstly, the chromite ore was analysed using conventional chemical methods. Then, the effect of some parameters such as roasting time, temperature and the amount of additives on the conversion efficiency to the chromate was examined. The optimum roasting conditions were determined as 300°C, 2 hours, 10 times the stoichiometrically required amounts of NaClO₃ and 6 times the stoichiometrically required amounts of KOH. Under these conditions, the maximum recovery of chromate was found to be 100%. The product obtained from the roasting process was leached with water to produce a clean chromate solution. The effect of temperature and solid/liquid (S/L) ratio was investigated in the water leaching experiments. The optimum experimental results obtained were 100% at a 1:5 solid to water ratio at 25°C and 20 min leaching period. The chromate solution was purified using conventional purification processes.     

Rare earth recovery from fluoride molten-salt electrolytic slag by sodium carbonate roasting-hydrochloric acid leaching

Fluorinated rare earth molten-salt electrolytic slag contains a considerable amount of rare earth elements,as well as a variety of heavy metals and fluorides that cause environmental pollution.Therefore,it is of great importance to fully utilise this resource.In this study,the transformation mechanism of fluorinated rare earth molten-salt electrolytic slag roasted with sodium carbonate,and the regulation mechanism of rare earth leaching under different roasting conditions were investigated with ...