Extractive metallurgy of rhenium: a review

Minerals & Metallurgical Processing , 2013, Vol. 30, No. 1, pp. 59-73

Anderson, C.D.; Taylor, P.R.; Anderson, C.G.

ABSTRACT:

 A variety of processing technologies exist for recovery from both primary and secondary sources of rhenium. Currently, there are no known primary rhenium deposits; thus, the method in which primary rhenium is produced is dependent on the commodity of which it is a byproduct, e.g., copper, molybdenum, uranium, etc. In addition, focus on the recovery of rhenium from secondary sources, such as alloy scraps and catalysts, is continually growing. This paper presents a review of both primary and secondary processing technologies for the recovery of rhenium.