A mathematical model for heap leaching of one or more solid reactants from porous ore pellets

Abstract

A mathematical model is derived in dimensionless form for heap leaching of one or more solid reactants from nonreactive, porous, spherical ore particles. The model is for the interpretation of column and heap leaching data and for use in the design and scaleup of heap leaching pro-cesses. Data from experimental column leaching tests are presented which validate the model. The scope of the present study is limited to the case where the rate-controlling reagent is a component of the lixiviant solution only and not of the gas phase. The effects of particle-scale kinetic factors, heap scale and operating variables, competition between multiple solid reactants, and particle size distribution are examined using the concept of the heap effectiveness factor. It is shown that heaps operate either «homogeneously,» with distribution of reagent throughout the heap at all times, or in a «zone-wise» manner, depending mostly on a single parameter. The observed value of this parameter deviates from the predicted value in inverse proportion to the degree of contact effectiveness between the lixiviant solution and the ore particles. A rough correlation between the contact effectiveness and Reynolds number is generated from the simulation of column test results.