Specification
Oxide and ferromolybdenum are priced on molybdenum content. Copper, phosphorus, sulphur, carbon and lead are the usual limits.
Metals · Mo · 42
Molybdenum
Molybdenum is a key element in catalysts and high-temperature parts, and much of it can be recovered from spent catalysts and scrap. We trade it at every stage of the value chain and advise the companies that produce and use it.
42MoMolybdenum95.95
- Atomic number
- 42
- Melting point
- 2623 °C
- Density
- 10.28 g/cm³
Most molybdenum comes as a by-product of copper mining, and most of it goes into steel as technical oxide or ferromolybdenum. Our focus is on the rest of the market: molybdenum chemicals such as pure oxide and AHM for catalysts, the recycling of molybdenum scrap, and molybdenum metal and powders for furnace parts, glass-melting electrodes and molybdenum-rhenium alloys. Molybdenum and its alloys such as TZM keep their strength at high temperature, and thin molybdenum films serve as the back contact in thin-film solar cells.
From ore to product
- 01
Flotation
Molybdenite (MoS₂) is separated from copper ore by flotation.
- 02
Roasting
Roasting turns the sulphide into technical molybdenum oxide; rhenium is recovered from the off-gas.
- 03
Ferromolybdenum
Most technical oxide goes to steelmaking directly or as ferromolybdenum, made by metallothermic reduction.
- 04
Chemicals
For chemicals and metal, the oxide is purified to ammonium heptamolybdate (AHM) or pure molybdenum oxide.
- 05
Metal
Hydrogen reduction gives molybdenum powder, pressed and sintered into bar and plate for furnace parts, electrodes and targets.
What matters in a deal
Spent catalysts
Spent hydroprocessing catalysts contain molybdenum with nickel, cobalt or vanadium. They count as hazardous waste and need licensed handling.
Metal scrap
Molybdenum sheet, wire and TZM scrap is sorted by alloy and contamination. Clean scrap goes back into powder or melting, contaminated scrap into the chemical route.
Questions
How is molybdenum recovered from spent catalysts?
Spent hydroprocessing catalysts are roasted or leached, and molybdenum is recovered as oxide or molybdate, often together with vanadium, nickel and cobalt. The work needs licensed plants, because spent catalysts count as hazardous waste.
What is AHM?
Ammonium heptamolybdate, a molybdenum chemical used to make catalysts and high-purity molybdenum products.
How do I reach Refraxys about material or a project?
Send a short description of your material or your requirement, an analysis if you have one, the quantity and the location to info@refraxys.com, or call us. You speak directly to the person who decides.
Contact
Material to sell, supply to find?
Send us a short description, an analysis if you have one, the quantity and the location. You speak directly to the person who decides.
Dr.-Ing. Ole Brettschneider
Founder & Managing Director