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2025 Vol.34, Issue 3

Article Review

Smelting and Recycling of Molybdenum

몰리브데넘의 제련과 리사이클링

Ho-Sang Sohn1*
손 호상1*
1Department of Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea
1경북대학교 금속재료공학과
*Corresponding Author
30 June 2025. pp. 3-14
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Abstract

Molybdenum (Mo) is a rare refractory metal produced in a few countries, including China. This study reviews the technologies associated with the production, utilization, smelting, and recycling of Mo. The global annual output of Mo is approximately 260 000 tons, with approximately 71% utilized as an alloying element in steel. The remaining portion is used either as metallic Mo or as a catalyst in the petrochemical industry. Metallic Mo is produced through the hydrogen reduction of MoO3, whereas ferromolybdenum is produced via metallothermic reduction. However, the direct reduction of MoS2 has also been investigated. As most Mo-containing iron scraps are recycled through melting in electric arc furnace, recycling efforts primarily target waste catalysts and pickling effluents. Mo from waste catalyst is recovered through hydrometallurgical, pyrometallurgical, or hybrid metallurgical processes. However, these methods present challenges related to consumption, environmental impact, and process efficiency. Therefore, the development of environmentally friendly recycling technologies should be prioritized in future research.

Keywords
molybdenum
pyro-metallurgy
ferroalloy
recycling
spent catalyst

몰리브데넘(Mo)은 중국을 비롯한 일부 국가에서만 생산되는 고융점 희소금속이다. 본 논문에서는 이러한 Mo의 생산량, 용도, 제련기술 및 리사이클링 기술에 관하여 고찰하였다. Mo의 전 세계 연간 생산량은 약 26만톤에 불과하며, 약 71 %는 철강재의 합금원소로 사용되고 있다. 나머지는 금속 Mo이나 석유화학용 촉매 등으로 사용되고 있다. Mo은 MoS2를 산화 배소시킨 MoO3를 수소로 환원하여 만든다. 또 금속 열환원 반응으로 합금철을 만들어 사용하지만, MoS2로부터 직접 환원하는 방법에 대해서도 검토되고 있다. Mo 함유 철스크랩의 대부분은 전기로에서 용해하여 리사이클링되므로, 실질적인 리사이클링 대상이 되는 것은 폐촉매와 산세 폐액 등이다. 폐촉매 중의 Mo은 습식제련법과 건식제련법 및 건식+습식제련법의 하이브리드법으로 회수하고 있으나, 에너지, 환경, 효율성 등에 많은 문제점을 가지고 있다. 따라서 향후에는 보다 친환경적인 리사이클링 기술에 대한 검토가 필요하다.

키워드
몰리브데넘
건식제련
합금철
리사이클링
폐촉매
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Information
  • Publisher :The Korean Institute of Resources Recycling
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국자원리싸이클링학회
  • Journal Title :Resources Recycling
  • Journal Title(Ko) :자원리싸이클링
  • Volume : 34
  • No :3
  • Pages :3-14
  • Received Date : 2025-04-07
  • Revised Date : 2025-05-08
  • Accepted Date : 2025-05-14
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7844/kirr.2025.34.3.3
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