Separation of Mn and Fe from a Manganiferous Iron Ore Using Horse Dung as Reductant: A Zero Waste Approach

Abstract

The separation of manganese and iron from a manganiferous iron ore using horse dung (biomass) as reductant was investigated in a sulfuric acid solution, and 99.80% Mn and 17.76% Fe were extracted into the solution under these leaching conditions: 1 M sulphuric acid concentration, 120 g/L biomass, 1/10 solid to liquid ratio, 300 rev/min stirring speed, 90°C leaching temperature, and 3 h leaching time. In the first precipitation step, the iron and aluminum were first rejected from the solution at pH 5.04. Thereafter, 98.58% Mn was precipitated at pH 10 in the second step. The precipitate was identified as a pyrochroite mineral. After the leaching, the residue was subjected to a carbothermal reduction process conducted at 700°C for 10 min in the presence of no extra reductant. The residue was converted to magnetite mineral, which can be easily recovered by magnetic separation. Based on the experimental results, a flowsheet has been proposed.