Molybdenum extraction from molybdenite concentrate in NaCl electrolyte

The electro-oxidation of molybdenite concentrate in NaCl electrolyte has been investigated. When the liquid–solid ratio is 25, mixing rate, 400 rpm, pH = 9, room temperature, concentration of NaCl, 4 mol/L, then the dissolution rate of molybdenite can achieve 99.97% in 240 min. With DSA (dimensionally stable anode) as anode, the polarization curves have been investigated. The results show that molybdenite concentrate cannot be electro-oxidated directly on the anode, chlorine evolution reaction plays a leading role in the NaCl medium, molybdenite concentrate oxidation leaching is by means of liberated chlorine through the anode. The kinetic study showed that the dissolution of molybdenite concentrate is represented by shrinking core model with diffusion through a porous product layer of sulfur. The apparent activation energy (Ea) for the dissolution reaction was calculated as 8.56 kJ/mol.