Kinetics of zinc sulfide concentrate direct leaching in pilot plant scale and development of semi-empirical model

The direct leaching kinetics of an iron-poor zinc sulfide concentrate in the tubular reactor was examined. All tests were carried out in the pilot plant. To allow the execution of hydrostatic pressure condition, the slurry with ferrous sulfate and sulfuric acid solution was filled into a vertical tube (9 m in height) and air was blown from the bottom of the reactor. The effects of initial acid concentration, temperature, particle size, initial zinc sulfate concentration, pulp density and the concentration of Fe on the leaching kinetics were investigated. Results of the kinetic analysis indicate that direct leaching of zinc sulfide concentrate follows shrinking core model (SCM). This process was controlled by a chemical reaction with the apparent activation energy of 49.7 kJ/mol. Furthermore, a semi-empirical equation is obtained, showing that the order of the iron, sulfuric acid and zinc sulfate concentrations and particle radius are 0.982, 0.189, −0.097 and −0.992, respectively. Analysis of the unreacted and reacted sulfide particles by SEM-EDS shows that insensitive agitation in the reactor causes detachment of the sulfur layer from the particles surface in lower than 60% Zn conversion and lixiviant in the face with sphalerite particles.