EXTRACTION OF MANGANESE FROM MANGANESE ORES BY ELECTROCHEMICAL LEACHING

Abstract

The basis of the traditional technology of hydrometallurgical processing of manganese ore is the process of ore roasting. The results obtained in this article make it possible to exclude the roasting process and directly leach the crushed ore under the action of an electric current. The process of electrochemical leaching includes two simultaneous operations: reduction of hard-soluble higher manganese oxides (pyrolusite-MnO2, vernadite-MnO2-nH2O) in an acid medium and transition of reduced manganese into an aqueous solution. The main part of the reduction process of higher manganese oxides proceeds in the Fe2+ ↔ Fe3+ catalytic system, the remaining part proceeds at the cathode under stirring. The degree of influence of iron (III) ions was determined. During studies on the transfer of manganese into solution from manganese ore by electrochemical leaching, the influence of L:S: ratio, sulfuric acid concentration, and cathodic current density on the degree of manganese extraction were studied. As a result of electrochemical leaching studies in the presence of the catalyst system, Fe2+ ↔ Fe3+ under optimal electrolysis parameters the degree of manganese extraction was 99%.