A direct hydrometallurgical route for nickel and molybdenum extraction from a nickel-molybdenum (Ni-Mo) ore using pressure acid leaching was studied. The nickel and molybdenum were extracted by acid leaching under oxygen pressure. Compared with traditional roasting methods, this hydrometallurgical method eliminates SO2 and As203 emission (the Ni-Mo ore containing 15%-25% S). Compared with existing alkali leaching recovery of molybdenum process, almost all the nickel and considerable molybdenum were extracted in the acid leaching process. Under oxygen pressure conditions, almost all the nickel and a substantial part of the molybdenum were dissolved into the acid leaching liquor and the other part of the molybdenum was left in the acid leach residue. The acid leach residue was further leached under alkaline (NaOH) conditions. Under optimal experimental conditions, the extraction rates nickel and molybdenum reached 97% and 96%, respectively.
Extraction of vanadium(IV) from sulphate acid solution was studied using organophosphorous-based extractants D2EHPA, EHEHPA and CYANEX 272 in kerosene. The different parameters affecting the extraction of vanadium(IV) under equilibrium conditions were separately investigated to elucidate the stoichiometry of the extracted species. The distribution ratio of vanadium increased with increasing equilibrium pH of the aqueous phase, concentration of the extractants and temperature. D2EHPA was found to be a stronger extractant, having greater pH functionality than EHEHPA and CYANEX 272. Extraction of vanadium(IV) by these organophosphorous-based extractants involved cation exchange mechanism, and the extracted species appear to be VOR2(HR)2 in the low equilibrium pH and VOR2 in the higher equilibrium pH, where HR refers to the three acidic extractants.