Utilization and Treatment of Electrolytic Manganese Residue

Electrolytic manganese residue (EMR) arises from the electrolysis of metal manganese and presents a complex waste stream rich in calcium sulphate, silicates and residual manganese compounds. Without adequate management, EMR poses environmental risks via heavy‐metal leaching and land occupation. Over the past decade, concerted research has targeted the transformation of EMR into valuable secondary resources. Approaches include hydrometallurgical recovery of residual manganese through optimised leaching; thermal conversion routes designed to recover sulphur dioxide and generate cement‐compatible calcareous materials; and solidification/stabilisation techniques using conventional binders or auxiliary industrial wastes to encapsulate heavy metals within stable mineral phases. Simultaneously, high‐value utilisation of EMR in construction and agriculture has advanced. In construction, formulations of EMR‐based cementitious composites, baked or baking‐free bricks, glass–ceramics and permeable materials leverage its gypsum content to form ettringite and hydrated calcium silicate gels, imparting mechanical strength and durability. In agriculture, blends of EMR, phosphogypsum and biochar have been explored to immobilise toxic ions and enhance plant growth. These multidisciplinary strategies reflect a global effort to close the loop on manganese production, minimise environmental impact and foster circular‐economy pathways.

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Utilization and Treatment of Electrolytic Manganese Residue publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in utilization and treatment of electrolytic manganese residue across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Electrolytic manganese residue (EMR): Solid waste by-product from the electrolysis of manganese, primarily composed of calcium sulphate, silicates and residual manganese oxides.
Desulfurised manganese residue (DMR): EMR subjected to high-temperature calcination and reductive roasting to remove sulphur as SO₂ and modify mineral phases.
Hydrated calcium silicate (C–S–H gel): Amorphous to poorly crystalline phase formed in cementitious systems that contributes to strength and pore-structure densification.
Ettringite (AFt): Hydrous calcium aluminium sulphate mineral that forms in the presence of sulphate and aluminium, stabilising heavy metals within its channelled structure.
Hydrometallurgical leaching: Chemical extraction process using acidic or chelating solutions to dissolve and recover metal ions from solid waste matrices.
Solidification/stabilisation: Treatment methodology combining waste with binders to immobilise contaminants through chemical and physical encapsulation.

References

1. Optimization of microwave-assisted manganese leaching from electrolyte manganese residue. Green Processing and Synthesis (2019).
2. Hazard-Free Treatment of Electrolytic Manganese Residue and Recovery of High-Concentration SO2 Using High-Temperature Reduction Roasting Process. Separations (2023).
3. Preparation of Baking‐Free Brick from Manganese Residue and Its Mechanical Properties. Journal of Nanomaterials (2013).
4. A study of the solidification and stability mechanisms of heavy metals in electrolytic manganese slag-based glass-ceramics. Frontiers in Chemistry (2022).
5. Study on Physical Properties of Desulfurized Electrolytic Manganese Residue Cement and Properties of Mortar. Materials (2023).
6. Study on the Performance and Mechanism of Cement Solidified Desulfurization Manganese Residue. Materials (2023).
7. Influence of EMR–Phosphogypsum–Biochar Mixtures on Sudan Grass: Growth Dynamics and Heavy Metal Immobilization. Agronomy (2024).