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Why is sulfuric acid added to a vanadium-bearing leachate?
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In the context of vanadium processing, sulfuric acid is used for two primary purposes depending on the stage of extraction:
- Leaching: When processing carnotite ores, hot sulfuric acid is used to leach the ore concentrate, which allows for the subsequent extraction of vanadium and uranium.1
- Precipitation: When processing other vanadium-bearing ores or slags that have been roasted with sodium salts, the resulting leachate is treated with sulfuric acid (acidulation). This process precipitates the vanadium as sodium hexavanadate, a compound commonly referred to as red cake.1