Manganese Production
Manganese is a natural element, first discovered in 1774 by the Swedish chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele. It is the twelfth-most abundant element in the Earth’s crust, occurring naturally in the form of oxides, hydroxides, carbonates, and sulphides. Manganese is an essential trace element and vital to the production of steel and alloy metals.
Manganese is mined in many countries, including South Africa, China, Brazil and Gabon. Approximately 85% of manganese ore is used to make steel, and the remaining 15% is used for other industrial products. The primary production of manganese is via chemical solvent extraction, involving the reagent digestion of ore to isolate and purify the metal.
The metal is extracted from its ore through smelting and reduction processes. In smelting, the ore is heated to very high temperatures to break down the metal compounds, and then pure manganese is obtained. Reduction is the chemical reaction of manganese ore with carbon, which removes the oxygen from the metal, leaving behind pure manganese. The resulting product is a ferromanganese alloy, containing between 75-95% manganese.
After extraction, the metal is processed and then sent to a refinery to produce grade manganese metal. Here, the alloy is converted into the pure metal and then melted and poured into blocks. The blocks can then be shaped according to the desired product, and surface-treated to increase its resistance to corrosion.
Manganese is used in a wide range of industrial applications, including steel production, aluminum alloy making, battery production, explosives, ceramics and pharmaceuticals. Other uses include pigments, fertilizer production, and water treatment.
As the demand for manganese increases, so does the need for efficient and cost-effective methods of production. Additionally, safety remains a priority, with special attention being paid to the minimization of emissions from industrial plants.
Innovation in the form of new technologies and processes are helping to meet the growing demand for manganese and facilitate cost-effective production. New techniques are being developed to increase the efficiency of existing production plants and reduce waste in the process.
Manganese is an essential element and its production is essential to the continued growth and development of the industrial sector. As demand increases, so too will innovation in production and processing, helping to ensure its safety and sustainability.
