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Kinetics of leaching lithium from lepidolite using mixture of hydrofluoric and sulfuric acid

锂云母混酸 HF/H2SO4 浸出锂的动力学研究

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Abstract

The fluorine-based chemical method shows great potential in leaching lithium (Li) from lepidolite. Leaching kinetics of Li in a mixture of sulfuric acid and hydrofluoric acid, which is a typical lixivant for the fluorine-based chemical method, was carried out under crucial factors such as different HF/ore ratios (1:1–3:1 g/mL) and leaching temperatures (50–85 °C). The kinetics data fit well with the developed shrinking-core model, indicating that the leaching rate of Li was controlled by the chemical reaction and inner diffusion at the beginning of leaching (0–30 min) as a calculated apparent activation energy (Ea) of 20.62 kJ/mol. The inner diffusion became the rate-limiting step as the leaching continues (60–180 min). Moreover, effects of HF/ore ratio and leaching temperature on selective leaching behavior of Li, Al and Si were discussed. 90% of fluorine mainly existed as HF/F− in leaching solution, which can provide theoretical guidance for further removal or recovery of F.

摘要

锂云母混酸 HF/H2SO4 浸出动力学研究表明: 50∼85 °C 下锂浸出速率在浸出前期(0∼30 min)由表面化学反应以及内扩散共同控制, 表观活化能 Ea 为 20.62 kJ/mol; 浸出后期(60∼180 min)则主要由产物内扩散控制. 氢氟酸添加量相比浸出温度对 Li、Al 和 Si 的浸出速率影响更显著. 浸出温度对 Li 浸出效率影响比对 Al 和 Si 的影响更明显.F 元素在固相不溶渣中的存在形式则主要为 Al-F 不溶氟化物和 K2SiF6. 此外, 液相中 F 元素在所研究的氢氟酸添加量及浸出温度下均可保持较高保留率(>90%), 为 F 元素的高效利用及后续回收利用提供保障.

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Acknowledgments

The authors also thank for the Changsha Research Institute of Mining and Metallurgy for e l emental analyses.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China

    Hai-dong Wang  (王海东), An-an Zhou  (周安安), Hui Guo  (郭慧), Meng-hua Lü  (吕梦华) & Hai-zhao Yu  (余海钊)

  2. School of Chemical Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China

    Hui Guo  (郭慧)

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Correspondence to Hui Guo  (郭慧).

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Foundation item: Project(51474237) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China

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Wang, Hd., Zhou, Aa., Guo, H. et al. Kinetics of leaching lithium from lepidolite using mixture of hydrofluoric and sulfuric acid. J. Cent. South Univ. 27, 27–36 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-020-4275-4

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