Dissolution kinetics of calcined chalcopyrite ore in sulphuric acid solution

Abstract

The dissolution kinetics of the primary calcined chalcopyrite ore from Damar mine area in Artvin city, Turkey was investigated in sulphuric acid solution. The ore was calcined for 1, 2 and 3 h at 373, 473, 573, ....1273 K temperatures. Then the calcined samples were dissolved in sulphuric acid solution. The calcination temperature and time, sulphuric acid concentration, solid/liquid ratio, agitation rate, particle size, dissolution temperature and time were determined. In addition the sulphation of the sulphide ore between 573-1073 K temperatures was examined. Finally, the activation energy in the dissolution was calculated as 4.04 kJ/mole for the calcined chalcopyrite ore. It was found that the dissolution process was controlled by limit film diffusion.