Kinetics of galena dissolution in nitric acid solutions with hydrogen peroxide

The extraction of lead from a galena concentrate in nitric acid solutions with additional hydrogen peroxide was studied taking stirring speed, temperature, hydrogen peroxide and nitric acid concentrations, and particle size as dissolution parameters. The dissolution curves followed the surface chemical reaction controlled shrinking core model over the whole range of parameters, except at high nitric acid concentrations where the reaction was diffusion-controlled. The activation energy of 42 kJ mol− 1 and a linear relationship between rate and inverse particle size support the reaction controlled dissolution mechanism. Hydrogen peroxide addition accelerated the reaction compared with nitric acid alone. It was concluded that the dissolution process is favourable, since the acid consumed for oxidation of galena can easily be regenerated in the same reactor by means of hydrogen peroxide.