LEACHING KINETICS OF SPHALERITE WITH PYRITE IN CHLORINE SATURATED WATER

The leaching kinetics of sphalerite with pyrite, in water saturated in chlorine, has been investigated. The leaching rate of sphalerite and pyrite increased with decreasing particle size, and with increasing st irring rate and gas flow rate. Increase of reaction temperature caused the leaching rate of sphalerite to increase, and that of pyrite to in crease in the temperature range of 12-20 degrees C and to decrease in the temperature range of 30-70 degrees C. The kinetics and mechanism o f dissolution reaction for sphalerite and pyrite were found to be diff usion controlled through the product layer. The activation energy for sphalerite in the ore was calculated as 22.68 kj mol(-1). The activati on energies for pyrite were calculated as 43.28 kj mol(-1) in the temp erature range 12-20 degrees C and 8.37 kj mol(-1) in the temperature r ange 30-60 degrees C. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserv ed.