Recovery of Vanadium as Ammonium Metavanadate and Vanadium Pentaoxide from Spent Sulfuric acid Catalysts

>98-99% pure vanadium as ammonium metavanadate (AMV) and vanadium pentaoxide (V2O5), with <0.9% impurity as per international high-purity grade specifications. Commercial value of 128USD/lb for AMV and 380USD/lb for V2O5.

With acid leaching using 20-30% solids, 96-98% V could be extracted. The leach liquor was subjected to a selective sequential precipitation route to extract 98.6% pure vanadium as ammonium metavanadate and >99% pure vanadium pentaoxide (V2O5). High-purity silica is a derivative product of the process.

Salient technical features are as follows:

• Low cost acid leaching and low-temperature process
• High-purity (>98%) vanadium product(s)
• High-purity (>99%) silica is a by-product
• Easily replicable on a large scale
• Closed-loop recycling of reagents
• Low Incubation time and high returns

Technology can save landfill costs for this hazardous waste and earn green certifications, in addition to the monetary benefits of producing this high-cost strategic element in the most desired marketable form.