Modeling the distribution of an adsorbing solute in a catalyzed column

Abstract

• Ethylene Thiourea (ETu) is a model catalytic reagent used to leach copper from chalcopyrite . • ETu interacts with the bed of ore as shown by comparison to Cu and Li which are inert. • A 2-D axisymmetric model of an adsorbing, reacting solute is used to explain ETu curves. • The Redlich Peterson adsorption isotherm explains the ETu curves generated. • The 2-D model is validated for different concentrations of ETu, flow rates and heights of column. Catalytic solutes have been reported to significantly enhance dissolution rates of copper from chalcopyrite. Ethylene thiourea (ETu), a thiocarbonyl compound which has been shown to have such a catalytic effect, is used as a model solute to study the distribution of solute in a column of crushed ore under a point source to simulate the effects of a single drip emitter. Steady state infiltration tests of ETu solution are performed to generate ETu breakthrough curves which are compared with curves from metal ions such as copper and lithium to estimate solute transport properties such as adsorption and reaction. The Redlich-Peterson isotherm is used successfully to describe the adsorption behavior of ETu in a column of crushed ore. A 2D axisymmetric model of solute transport is used to estimate adsorption and reaction rate constants by analyzing the sensitivity of model break through curves and comparing them to experimental results. Further, the model populated with the computed parameters is used to estimate ETu breakthrough curves resulting from varying input concentrations, column heights and infiltration rates.