Extraction of manganese from a pyrolusite ore was investigated using molasses alcohol wastewater as a reducing agent in dilute sulfuric acid medium. The effects of molasses alcohol wastewater dosage, concentration of sulfuric acid, leaching temperature and reaction time were studied. High manganese recovery, coupled with relatively low Fe and Al extraction yields, was obtained with this leaching process. The optimal leaching conditions were obtained using 1.9 mol/L H(2)SO(4) and 2.0 mL/g ratio of molasses alcohol wastewater to pyrolusite for 120 min at 90 degrees C. These conditions resulted in leaching yields of 93% for Mn, with relatively low recoveries of 37% for Fe and 25% for Al. These results demonstrate that molasses alcohol wastewater is a low cost resource, containing renewable and non-hazardous reducing agents (when compared to other available reagents) that can be used for manganese leaching under mild acidic conditions. In short, the method provides a good extraction yield while making an economically productive use of molasses alcohol wastewater. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.