The Optimization of Sc Recovery from Red Mud Obtained by Water-Leaching of Bauxite-Sintering Product

Abstract

This study continues and develops approaching of bauxite residue treatment and associated waste for extracting highly valuable metals and scandium recovery by optimizing a hydrometallurgy method for process intensification. Laboratory-scale experiments were conducted in a nitric acid medium on electrostatic precipitator dust (ESPD) received in bauxite sintering. The method includes prior water-leaching of ESPD and subsequent asid leaching experiments at different liquid-to-solid ratios, leaching times and temperatures. The maximum extraction of the scandium was around 76.5 % at pH=0.2. Experimental design based on response surface methodology was used for obtained values optimization. Researches have shown that the optimization of the conditions for the transfer of scandium from red mud to the leaching solution mainly depends on the pH that have to be adjusted in range 0.5-1.7. The pH should not be too low, since Sc does not have time to go into solution in the presence of iron and other elements, as well as too high, because high values lead to re-precipitation of Sc from the filtrate. Complete study for Sc recovery is under progress and is not elaborated here.