Initial Investigation into the Leaching of Manganese from Nodules at Room Temperature with the Use of Sulfuric Acid and the Addition of Foundry Slag-Part I

Abstract

In this study, the surface optimization methodology was used to assess the effect of three independent variables—time, particle size and sulfuric acid concentration—on Mn extraction from marine nodules during leaching with H2SO4 in the presence of foundry slag. The effect of the MnO2/Fe ratio and particle size (MnO2) was also investigated. The maximum Mn extraction rate was obtained when a MnO2 to Fe molar ratio of 0.5, 1 M of H2SO4, −320 + 400 Tyler mesh (−47 + 38 μm) nodule particle size and a leaching time of 30 min were used