Scientists in Kazakhstan have increased rhenium extraction to 90%

Scientists at the National Center on Complex Processing of Mineral Raw Materials of the Republic of Kazakhstan have developed a technology for the selective extraction of rhenium from process solutions containing organic impurities. Tests have shown that the recovery rate of the rare metal exceeds 90%.

The solution is designed for processing solutions obtained from secondary raw materials, where the presence of organic impurities significantly complicates the process. Traditional, expensive ion-exchange resins, as Associate Professor Feruza Berdikulova noted, extract rhenium along with organic compounds, causing the sorbents to quickly become saturated and lose their effectiveness.

As an alternative, the researchers proposed a composite of carbon sorbents of mineral and plant origin. The development was tested in a pilot plant using a cascade of sorption columns connected in series.

The effectiveness of the technology was confirmed by tests on solutions from the leaching of lead cakes from copper production. These solutions contained rhenium levels ranging from 40 to 460 mg/dm³, and organic impurity levels from 46 to 760 mg/dm³. The tests demonstrated selective separation of rhenium and organic compounds.

Project leader, Professor Svetlana Efremova, emphasized that the key advantage of the development was its integrated approach. Recycled resources are used at all stages of the process chain – from the production of rhenium-containing solutions to the final product. Some of the waste possesses the necessary functional properties and is used without additional processing, reducing costs.

Byproducts of the development have also found practical applications. In particular, the silicate solution formed during the production of the active carbon sorbent can be used as an alternative to commercial liquid glass in the manufacture of high-temperature materials.

According to Professor Baimakhan Satbaev, the developed composition allows for the production of lightweight, heat-resistant materials that can withstand numerous heating and cooling cycles. Tests at the furnace section of the Zh. Abishev Chemical and Metallurgical Institute, led by Professor Alibek Baisanov, confirmed the potential of this material for internal linings and thermal insulation.

Young researchers Nurgali Shalabayev and Askhat Kablanbekov, who are preparing to defend their PhD dissertations, are also participating in the project. The results of their work have been presented in scientific publications and at international conferences.

According to the project participants, the combination of science and engineering allows for waste recycling and reducing dependence on imported materials, while simultaneously achieving economic and environmental benefits.

Source: airpres.kz