Acidic Leaching with Chlorate as Oxidizing Agent to Extract Mo and Re from Molybdenite Flotation Concentrate in a Copper Plant

The technology of molybdenum extraction from molybdenite concentrate by using potassium chlorate (KClO₃) or sodium chlorate (NaClO₃) has been investigated. The results show that leaching time, leaching temperature, agitation speed, oxidizer type, potassium or sodium chlorate, and hydrochloric acid concentration have significant effect on the molybdenum extraction efficiency. Optimum process operating parameters were established as follows: 4 hrs, hydrochloric acid concentration: 35%, solids ratio: 5%, temperature: 65-70°C, agitation speed: 600 rpm, the mass of potassium chlorate and sodium chlorate: 25 g. Under these experimental conditions, the extraction of molybdenum and rhenium were obtained about 85% and 100%, respectively.