Review of technologies for rhenium recovery from mineral raw materials in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is a major producer of non-ferrous metals. The production of heavy metals is generally based on pyrometallurgical processes resulting in the generation of by-products which contain rare metals, in particular rhenium. The base mineral raw materials for recovery of rhenium are solid and liquid by-products of copper, lead and uranium production.In pyrometallurgical processing of sulfide copper concentrates containing rhenium, this metal is concentrated in metallurgical gases. During the purification of the gas phase, rhenium is distributed between dusts, slime and wash sulfuric acid. Dusts are sent to lead smelters, and rhenium is recovered from wash sulfuric acid of copper production.Solutions obtained during underground leaching of uranium ore could be a new source for commercial production of rhenium despite low concentration.In the paper presented technological flowcharts for recovery of rhenium from by-products of copper, lead and uranium production with application of leaching, ion exchange, solvent extraction and electrodialysis.

Research highlights
► The base mineral raw materials for recovery of rhenium in Kazakhstan are by-products of copper, lead and uranium production.
► In pyrometallurgical processing of copper concentrates, Re is distributed between dusts, slime and washes sulfuric acid.
► Dusts are sent to lead smelters, and rhenium is recovered from wash sulfuric acid of copper production.
► Solutions obtained during underground leaching of uranium ore could be a new source for commercial production of rhenium.