Journal of Mining Engineering

Journal of Mining Engineering

Investigation of Parameters of Direct Leaching of Sphalerite with Ferric Ions and Sulfuric Acid

Document Type : research - paper

Authors
1 lorestan university- mining grope
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Mining Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Lorestan University
3 lorestan university, mining grope
Abstract
The Gol Zard lead and zinc mine is located in Aligudarz City, Lorestan province, and its ore contains sphalerite and galena minerals with grades of about 28.2 and 5.4 percent. The direct leaching method with ferric ion and sulfuric acid was used for sphalerite leaching due to its cheapness and simple implementation, and the effects of operating parameters such as temperature, time, iron sulfate concentration, stirring speed, and sulfuric acid concentration were investigated. The results showed that temperature, ferric ion concentration, and time parameters had the most significant effect, respectively, and sulfuric acid concentration and stirring speed had the least impact on zinc leaching recovery. Finally, under the optimal conditions of stirring speed of 400 rpm, sulfuric acid concentration of 1.5 molar, time of 120 minutes, iron sulfate concentration of 1 molar, and temperature of 75 degrees Celsius, zinc leaching recovery was about 86 percent. The possibilities of sulfur layer formation, iron hydroxide precipitation, and (Fe.Zn) 〖SO〗_4.XH_2O precipitation on the sphalerite surface could be the reason for the lack of 14%  zinc dissolution in the zinc hydrometallurgy process.
Keywords

Subjects


  Gahan, C.S., Srichandan, H., Kim, D., Akcil, A., )2012(. Biohydrometallurgy and Biomineral Processing Technology: A Review on its Past, Present and Future”. Research Journal of Recent Sciences. 1(10); 85-99. ##
  Souza, A.D., Pina, P.S., Leão, V.A., Silva, C.A., Siqueira P.F. (2007).  “The leaching kinetics of a zinc sulphide concentrate in acid ferric sulphate”. Hydrometallurgy 89; 72–81. ##
  Crundwell, F.K., (2021).“The impact of light on understanding the mechanism of dissolution and leaching of sphalerite (ZnS), pyrite (FeS2) and chalcopyrite (CuFeS2)”, Minerals Engineering, Volume 161 ;  106728. ##
  Nikkhou, F., Xia F., Deditius, A. P., (2019). ”Variable surface passivation during direct leaching of sphalerite by ferric sulfate, ferric chloride, and ferric nitrate in a citrate medium”,Hydrometallurgy. 188 ; 201-215. ##
  Nikkhou, F.,Kartal, M.,  Xia, F. (2021) “Ferric methanesulfonate as an effective and environmentally sustainable lixiviant for Zn extraction from sphalerite (ZnS)”. Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry.  96; 226-235. ##
  Souza, A.D., Pina, P.S., Leão, V.A., Silva, C.A., Siqueira, P.F., (2007). “The leaching kinetics of a zinc sulphide concentrate in acid ferric sulphate”. Hydrometallurgy.89(2); 72-81. ##
  Habashi, F., (1993), A textbook of hydrometallurgy, metallurgie extractive Quebec. Enr. Que., Canada. ##
  قصاع، سینا.، بررسی سینتیک انحلال اسفالریت به وسیله آهن فریک تولید شده به روش بیواکسیداسیون، پایان نامه ارشد، 1394. ##
  Karimi, S., Rashchi, F., Moghaddam, j., (2017). “Parameters optimization and kinetics of direct atmospheric leachingof Angouran sphalerite”. International journal mineral processing. 162;58-68. ##
  Peng, P., Xie, H., Lizhu, L., (2005). “Leaching of a sphalerite concentrate with H2SO4–HNO3 solutions in the presence of C2Cl4”. Hydrometallurgy.80(4); 265-271. ##
  Santos, M.C., et al., (2010). “Ferric sulphate/chloride leaching of zinc and minor elements from a sphalerite concentrate”. Minerals Engineering. 23(8); 606-615. ##
   Aydogan, S., (2006), “Dissolution kinetics of sphalerite with hydrogen peroxide in sulphuric acid medium”. Chemical Engineering Journal.123(3); 65-70. ##
  bdollahi, Hadi, Mirsaleh Mirmohammadi, Sina Ghassa, Golnaz Jozanikohan, Zohreh Boroumand, and Olli H. Tuovinen. (2022) "Acid bioleaching of select sphalerite samples of variable Zn-and Fe-contents." Hydrometallurgy 212: 105897. ##
  خدایی، ح.، (1398)."بررسی عوامل موثر بر فلوتاسیون معدن گل زرد الیگودرز و بازیابی نقره از کنسانتره آن به روش فروشویی". پایان­نامه ارشد، دانشگاه لرستان. ##
  Babu, M.N., Sahu, K.K., Pandey, B.D., (2002). Zinc recovery from sphalerite concentrate by direct oxidative leaching with ammonium, sodium and potassium persulphates. Hydrometallurgy 64; 119–129. ##
 

  • Receive Date 14 December 2023
  • Revise Date 01 December 2024
  • Accept Date 06 April 2025