Perfect 👍 — next in **periodic table order** is **Molybdenum (Mo, atomic number 42).**
Molybdenum is a **transition metal** that does **not occur free** in nature. It is primarily obtained from **molybdenite (MoS₂)**. Industrial extraction involves **roasting, leaching, and reduction** to obtain metallic molybdenum.
Here are the **20 most common methods of extracting Molybdenum**:
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# **20 Most Common Methods of Extracting Molybdenum**
### **A. Extraction from Molybdenite (MoS₂)**
1. **Flotation of Molybdenite from Ore** – Concentrates MoS₂ from gangue.
2. **Roasting of MoS₂ (2 MoS₂ + 7 O₂ → 2 MoO₃ + 4 SO₂)** – Produces molybdenum trioxide (MoO₃).
3. **Sublimation of MoO₃** – Purifies MoO₃ as a volatile oxide.
4. **Reduction of MoO₃ with Hydrogen (MoO₃ + 3 H₂ → Mo + 3 H₂O)** – Produces metallic molybdenum.
5. **Reduction with Carbon (Carbothermic Reduction)** – MoO₃ + 3 C → Mo + 3 CO.
6. **Electrolytic Reduction of MoO₃** – Laboratory or specialty high-purity method.
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### **B. Hydrometallurgical / Chemical Methods**
7. **Leaching Roasted MoO₃ with Ammonium Hydroxide (NH₄OH)** – Produces ammonium molybdate ((NH₄)₆Mo₇O₂₄·4H₂O).
8. **Precipitation of Ammonium Molybdate from Solution** – Intermediate purification step.
9. **Solvent Extraction of Molybdenum from Leach Solutions** – Using organophosphorus or amine extractants.
10. **Ion Exchange Purification** – Removes residual impurities.
11. **Recovery of Molybdenum from Copper-Molybdenum Ores as Byproduct** – Flotation → roasting → leaching.
12. **Conversion of Molybdenum Salts to MoO₃** – Prepares for metallic reduction.
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### **C. Recovery from Byproducts / Secondary Sources**
13. **Recovery from Recycled Steel or Superalloys Containing Mo** – Acid leaching → precipitation.
14. **Recovery from Spent Catalysts** – Chemical extraction of Mo.
15. **Recovery from Industrial Slags** – MoO₃ extraction via roasting and leaching.
16. **Recovery from Copper Refinery Slimes** – Minor amounts of Mo as a byproduct.
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### **D. Laboratory / Experimental Methods**
17. **Reduction of MoO₃ with Sodium (Na)** – Lab metallothermic method.
18. **Magnesiothermic Reduction of MoO₃** – Laboratory-scale method.
19. **Plasma Reduction of Molybdenum Oxides** – Experimental high-purity Mo production.
20. **Solar-Thermal Reduction of MoO₃** – Experimental renewable energy method.
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✅ **Summary:**
* **Main industrial source:** Molybdenite (MoS₂).
* **Primary extraction steps:** Flotation → roasting → MoO₃ → reduction → metallic molybdenum.
* **Metallic molybdenum:** Produced via hydrogen, carbon, or metallothermic reductions.
* **Purification:** Sublimation, solvent extraction, ion exchange.
* **Byproduct sources:** Copper-molybdenum ores, recycled steel, spent catalysts, industrial slags.
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Next in periodic order is \*\*Technetium (Tc, atomic number 43).
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