Review of Technology for Rhenium Extraction From Lead Sludges and Dusts of Copper Production

Abstract

During the processing of copper concentrates containing rhenium, the primary technological focus is on copper extraction. Consequently, rhenium is distributed among the processing products and accumulates in varying concentrations depending on its behavior and the yield of intermediate products. On an industrial scale, rhenium is primarily recovered from solutions in wet gas purification systems used in copper and molybdenum production, as well as partially from fine dust particles. However, enrichment tailings, slags from the pyrometallurgical processing of crude metal, sludges from wet gas purification systems, and dust from dry electrostatic filters remain outside industrial use. Research efforts to develop processing technologies for these materials are ongoing. This article provides a comprehensive review of methods for processing rhenium-containing lead sludges and copper production dust. The study analyzes techniques for rhenium extraction through oxidative roasting or leaching in the presence of oxidizing agents, as well as methods for concentrating rhenium in processing products during the dissolution or decomposition of lead compounds.