Lattice Boltzmann model for simulation on leaching process of weathered elution-deposited rare earth ore

Abstract

The lattice Boltzmann model with coupled chemical reaction was proposed to simulate the ion exchange process of rare earth leaching and verified by comparison with both empirical correlation of mass transfer coefficient and unreacted-core shrinking model. By simulation, the zonation phenomenon of leaching reagent in the leaching column was presented, and the breakthrough curve of leaching reagent was obtained. When t=50 s, there existed the saturated and exchange zones, and the leaching reagent concentration decreased gradually from 20 to 9.3 g/L. In accordance with the breakthrough curve, the breakthrough capacity of ion-type rare earth ore and the adsorbed ion concentration of leaching reagent were derived, the time of t=25 s was the breakthrough point of ammonium ion in leaching reagent and the breakthrough capacity of the rare earth ore was 125 g/L. Besides, the chemical kinetics parameters used for the solute transfer process of rare earth leaching were obtained by the simulation and then were used to determine the rate-limiting steps of rare earth leaching process.