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A dissolution kinetic model for metals in solutions

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Abstract

A kinetic model for the batch leaching of various metals using different lixiviants was developed. The overall material balances for the reactants and products at the solid/liquid interface were formulated for various types of heterogeneous reactions at the interface. The solutions to these mass balances are identified analytically, as well as numerically. Applications of these numerical solutions to various leaching systems using rotating discs or powders are discussed. The metal-dissolution systems addressed include cobalt, nickel and copper in acid, cyanide and ammoniacal solutions.

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Abbreviations

a, b, c, d:

Stoichiometric coefficients for reaction (1)

β:

ratio of a/c

CAb:

Concentration of reactant A in the bulk solution

CAs:

Interfase concentration of reactant A

CBs:

Interfase concentration of reactant B

CDs:

Concentration of product D at the interphase

Cpb:

Concentration of product P in the bulk solution

Cps:

Concentration of product P at the interphase

C0ps:

Initial concentration of product P at the interphase

C0Ab:

Initial concentration of product P in the bulk solution

Di:

Diffusivity of i species

d:

diameter of particulate

Kmi, kmA:

Mass transfer coefficients of i and A, respectively

km1, km2:

As given in the text

kmr, kmp:

Mass transfer coefficients of reactants and products

kf:

Forward rate constant

kb:

Backward rate constant

k1, k2:

As given in the text

l, m, q, x:

Reaction orders of Eq. (1) with respect to individual species

A, B:

Reactant species

D, P:

Product species

M, G:

Integral constants as defined in Eq. (4)

M′:

Metal substrate, solid reactant

n:

V/v

R:

Percentage of km1 contributing to the overall rate

S:

Surface area of solid metal; t Leaching time

v:

Volume of the bulk solution

vs:

Slip velocity

δ:

Thickness of diffusion boundary layer

δ′:

Thickness of interface

θ:

The fraction of surface unavailable for the reaction; ν Kinematic viscosity of fluid

ω:

Angular velocity of rotating disc.

References

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SME Preprint 94–29, SME Annual Meeting, Feb. 14–17, 1994, Albuquerque, NM.

M&MP paper 94–618. Discussion of this peer-reviewed and approved paper is invited and must be submitted, in duplicate, prior to Aug. 31, 1995.

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Meng, X., Sun, X. & Han, K.N. A dissolution kinetic model for metals in solutions. Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration 12, 97–102 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03403085

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