Microwave Enhanced Producing of High-Purity Metallic Manganese and Composite Manganese Based Alloys

Experimental research was carried out using representative samples of manganese processing waste disposed in Georgia to achieve secondary recovery of high-purity metallic manganese and form the waste. Manganese hydroxide obtained through microwave ammonium chloride processing of manganese containing sludge was used for obtaining manganese sulphate, electrolytic manganese and manganese based composite alloys. The experimental data showed that microwave utilization of manganese bearing waste can form the basis for the low-cost and environmentally-friendly industrial production of high purity metallic manganese, which can be used for synthesis of manganese doped semiconductors. It can also be used for SHS producing of composite manganese based low-carbon and low phosphorous alloys. The developed methods can partially replace the standard technologies of ferroalloys industry, which uses reducing manganese oxides by carbon. This would significantly decrease the carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide emissions during production of ferromanganese and metallic manganese while reducing the emission of greenhouse gases and mitigating global warming.