Abstract
Molybdenite is the main ore mineral for the molybdenum industry and the production of molybdenum. The industrial processing of molybdenite is based on its oxidized roasting to technical grade molybdenum oxide, followed by its purification by distillation or its ammonia leaching.
The present work reports a thermal analysis study of the oxidized roasting of Egyptian molybdenite, using a derivatograph. The reaction products were identified microscopically and by using a Siemens Crystalloflex diffractometer.
The DTA curves of the roasting of molybdenite show that its oxidation begins at 360–370°C, as indicated by the small exothermic peak at such temperatures. This is followed immediately by a large, wide exothermic peak with maximum at 510–520°C, representing the intensive oxidation of molybdenite. The medium endothermic peak at 795–800°C reflects the melting and sublimation of molybdenum oxide. The vigourous vaporization of molybdenum oxide and its boiling are associated with the large, sharp endothermic peak at 1150°C. This is accompanied by a large loss in mass (TG).
The study includes calculation of the thermodynamic constants and the kinetics of the reaction of oxidation of molybdenite.
The oxidized roasting of molybdenite results in the production of molybdenum oxide, which is the essential starting material of the molybdenum industry. The molybdenum oxide produced has the molybdite structure and crystallizes in the orthorhombic system in the form of elongated, thin, light-green crystals.
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Abdel-Rehim, A.M. Thermal Analysis and X-Ray Diffraction of Roasting of Egyptian Molybdenite. Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry 57, 415–431 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010151605309
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010151605309