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Why is hot sulfuric acid used when leaching carnotite concentrate?
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When processing carnotite concentrate, hot sulfuric acid is used in conjunction with an oxidant, such as sodium chlorate, to facilitate the leaching of the ore. This chemical process is essential for extracting vanadium as a coproduct alongside uranium. By leaching the concentrate for 24 hours, the metals are brought into solution, allowing them to be subsequently separated and recovered through solvent extraction circuits.1