Extraction of vanadium from vanadium slag by high pressure oxidative acid leaching

Abstract

To extract vanadium in an environment friendly manner, this study focuses on the process of leaching vanadium from vanadium slag by high pressure oxidative acid leaching. Characterizations of the raw slag, mineralogy transformation, and the form of leach residues were made by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The result shows that the vanadium slag is composed of major phases of fayalite, titanomagnetite, and spinel. During the high pressure oxidative acid leaching process, the fayalite and spinel phases are gradually decomposed by sulfuric acid, causing the release of vanadium and iron in the solution. Meanwhile, unreacted silicon and titanium are enriched in the leach residues. With the initial concentration of sulfuric acid at 250 g·L−1, a leaching temperature of 140°C, a leaching time of 50 min, a liquid-solid ratio of 10:1 mL·g−1, and oxygen pressure at 0.2 MPa, the leaching rate of vanadium reaches 97.69%.