Abstract: The new process for recovering molybdenum from low grade molybdenite ore was investigated.Unroasted molybdenite ore was oxidized by oxygen under alkaline conditions and the molybdenum disulfide in the ore was converted to sodium molybdate.Metal molybdenum was gained by acidification and extraction of the filtrate.The effect on the leaching rate of molybdenum of the factors was studied, such as reaction time, pressure and temperature, sodium hydroxide concentration and agitation speed.The results show that under a reaction pressure of 2.0 MPa, reaction temperature of 180 ℃, the sodium hydroxide concentration of 75 g/L, agitation speed of 450 r/min, reaction time of 4 h, liquid-to-solid ratio of 4.5∶1,the leaching rate of molybdenum can be over 99%.

Key words: Molybdenite, Molybdenum, Oxygen oxidation