Direct extraction of molybdenum from high acid leach solutions of Ni–Mo ore using an oxime extractant of HBL101

Abstract

An oxime extractant of HBL101 was used to directly extract molybdenum (VI) from a strong acid leach solution of Ni–Mo ore. The organic system was optimized in terms of its organic composition and the conditions of extraction and stripping and further characterized in terms of the extraction and stripping kinetics and distribution isotherms and phase separation. More than 99.8% of the molybdenum was extracted by two-stage counter current extraction using an organic system of 10%HBL101+5%TBP+85% sulfonated kerosene and a feed containing 14.7g/L of Mo and 4mol/LH+ with an A/O ratio of 1:1.5 at 30°C for 5min. The loaded organic was stripped using ammonia solutions after scrubbing with de-ionized water. The stripping of molybdenum was completed by three-stage counter current stripping using 6mol/L of NH3·H2O with an A/O ratio of 1:4 at 30°C for 20min, resulting in the separation of molybdenum over nickel, iron, calcium, magnesium, aluminum, copper and zinc, and the enrichment and transformation of the molybdenum. The concentration of molybdenum in the strip liquor of pure (NH4)2MoO4 solutions reached 33.42g/L and increased to as high as 143.67g/L after reflux stripping. The extractant of HBL101 exhibited good performance and stability for reuse.