Kinetic study on the thermal decomposition of iron (II) sulfate using a global optimization approach

Abstract

The thermal decomposition of sulfates is a major intermediate reaction in oxidizing roasting processes associated with metal sulfides. The optimization of iron (II) sulfate could contribute to lowering processes’ temperatures in complex systems. The present work presents the experimental and modeling results of the thermal decomposition of iron (II) sulfate heptahydrate. The investigation was first based on thermodynamic simulations followed by non-isothermal thermogravimetric analysis. The modeling technique consisted of differential equations formulated to describe each decomposition step individually, with the kinetic parameters estimated using particle swarm optimization (PSO). Using this modeling methodology over a graphical method is advantageous as it can simulate reactions that may occur simultaneously. The modeling succeeded in dehydration and desulfation steps, with an overall R2 value of 0.99. The activation energies and apparent reaction order associated with the dehydration steps were 53.3kJ.mol−1/n=1.65, 88.8kJ.mol−1/n=1.12, and 124kJ.mol−1/n=2.0 for FeSO4.7H2O, FeSO4.4H2O, and FeSO4.H2O, respectively. The desulfation steps were associated with higher activation energy values. In that case, 184kJ.mol−1 and 264kJ.mol−1 for FeSO4 and Fe2(SO4)3, respectively. Regarding the apparent reaction order, both desulfation steps showed to be first-order reactions.