LEACHING OF MAGNESIUM FROM SERPENTINITE

Abstract

The demand for magnesium (Mg) and its alloys is increasing due to their use in various industries, including recent applications of Mg compounds for CO₂ sequestration. However, conventional methods for primary Mg processing, such as thermal reduction and electrolysis, require considerable energy consumption and have a significant environmental impact. On the other hand, the hydrometallurgical processes are considered more environmentally friendly and economically viable, even for small-scale production. This paper explores the potential of obtaining Mg from serpentinite minerals using a hydrometallurgical approach. The objective of this study is to optimize the parameters of the leaching process with HCl acid solution. This is achieved through thermodynamic calculations using the HSC Chemistry software. Chemical analysis of the serpentinite mineral revealed a Mg content of 13.05%, and the presence of impurities (Fe, Ca, Al, Cr, Ni, etc.). This data served as the basis for the thermodynamic calculations, while the amount of Mg compounds in the pregnant leached solution is used to evaluate the efficiency of the leaching process. The optimization involved examining the effects of temperature (ranging from 0 to 100 °C) and HCl acid addition (ranging from 0 to 15 mol). The study concluded that temperature does not significantly affect the efficiency of Mg leaching. Instead, by selecting the optimal amount of acid, it is possible to maximize Mg leaching while minimizing the presence of impurities. However, further experimental investigation on the influence of other leaching parameters, such as particle size and mixing speed, is needed.