Determination of the optimum conditions for dissolution of magnesite with H₂SO₄ solutions

Abstract

Basic data on leaching of magnesite (MgCO₃) with sulphuric acid are of interest from the point of view of the industrial process for obtaining pure MgSO₄. The Taguchi method was used to determine the optimum conditions for the dissolution of magnesite in H₂SO₄ solutions. The experiments were performed within the ranges mentioned herein i.e. 20-65°C for reaction temperature, 0.5/100-10/100 g/mL for solid-to-liquid ratio, 0.2-5 M for acid concentration, 5-60 min for reaction time and 150-750 rpm for stirring speed. The optimum conditions for these factors were found to be 65°C, 5/100 g/mL, 2 M, 60 min and 300 rpm, respectively. Under these conditions, the dissolution mass fraction of MgCO₃ in H₂SO₄ solutions were <i style="">w </i>= 96.32%.