Micellar mediated selective leaching of manganese nodule in high temperature sulfuric acid medium

The present study evaluates the possibility of selective leaching of manganese from complex, manganese and iron oxy-hydroxide based sea bed nodule utilising micelles in high temperature acid dissolution process. Application of surfactants during acid leaching of manganese nodules are described based on results from leaching studies. The factors that affected the sulfuric acid leaching of the manganese nodules in the presence of various surfactants were investigated. The effect of anionic (SDS-Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate), cationic (CTAB-Cetyl Trimethyl Ammonium Bromide) and nonionic (Triton-X 100) surfactant on the various metals extraction with respect to sulfuric acid concentration, temperature, type of surfactants and surfactant concentration is reported. Among them, CTAB showed highest improvement in the recovery of Cu, Ni, Co, Zn and Mn. Iron, aluminium, and silica were removed effectively through the present approach of high temperature sulfuric acid leaching route assisted by surfactant. Increasing the temperature of the medium has significant impact in the selective leaching of Mn, Cu, Ni and Co. The optimum conditions established for maximum metal extraction are: pulp density 10%, time 2h, temperature 160°C, sulfuric acid 5.0% (v/v) and at critical micellar concentration of CTAB. Under these conditions, recovery of Mn was 99% along with the (˃99%) recovery of Cu, Co, and Ni. The leached residues were analysed and their phase and morphologies were included herein. The present process may find application of separation of manganese from iron and aluminium at high temperature during various hydrometallurgical treatment of manganese based ores.