Investigation of the direct hydrometallurgical processing of mechanically activated low-grade wolframite concentrate

Experimental laboratory work on leaching of low-grade wolframite concentrate has shown that the dissolution of tungsten with a high extraction (90%) can only be reached after mechanical treatment of the studied wolframite concentrate, following oxidative leaching at 170°C in an autoclave in the presence of oxygen partial pressure of 10 bar. The effects of grinding time, temperature, sodium hydroxide concentration and oxygen partial pressure on the oxidation rate as well as the kinetics of the leaching process have been determined.