Leaching of FeS in aqueous chlorine solution

Abstract

FeS leaching was carried out in aqueous chlorine solution at low temperatures (12–40°C) and ambient pressure ( ⋍610 mm Hg in Erzurum). The effects of particle size, reaction time, solid to liquid ratio, gas flow rate, temperature, and speed of stirring were investigated. The sulfide ion in the FeS was oxidized to sulfate and elemental sulfur during the leaching. Most of the oxidized sulfide ion was found in the solution as sulfate. All of the elemental sulfur was oxidized to sulfate as the reaction progressed to completion. The dissolution rate increased with increase in stirring speed and temperature, and with decrease in particle size, but it was not affected by the flow rate of Cl 2 and the solid to liquid ratio under the conditions covered in this study. The data were well correlated by the shrinking core-diffusion (through the fluid film) control model. The activation energy was calculated as 18.9 kJ mol −1.