Abstract
Iron normally exists in the form of ferrous ion (Fe2+) in primary ore deposits of valuable metals. To remove iron from hydrometallurgical leaching solution or suspension by precipitation, ferrous ion should be oxidized to ferric ion (Fe3+) first. Due to the low oxidation rate of Fe2+ by the traditional oxygen oxidation method, industry has to use more agitating barrels, steam, and compressed gas, as well as a larger workshop area, which dramatically increases the equipment investment and operation costs. In this study, a strengthened oxygen oxidation method for Fe2+ using a homemade venturi jet microbubble generator is proposed. Microbubbles of air, oxygen, or oxygen-enriched air can be formed in the leaching solution or suspension, which can greatly improve the dissolved oxygen content in the solution and increase the gas-liquid contact area, thereby accelerating the oxygen oxidation rate of Fe2+ to Fe3+ and realizing the rapid iron removal of the leaching solution or suspension. By measuring the residual concentration of Fe2+ in the solution after oxidation reaction, it was found that the pump power, solution temperature, pH, concentration of Cu2+, and solution flow rate had great effects on the oxidation performance of the produced microbubble. By analyzing the images of the microbubbles and measuring the dissolved oxygen content in the solution, it is confirmed that the accelerated oxidation reaction rate of Fe2+ using the new proposed method was mainly due to the increase of the dissolved oxygen amount in the solution. Moreover, this method can significantly increase the purification depth of iron ion, expand production capacity, and decrease energy consumption.
Highlights
The concentrate of zinc, nickel, copper, cobalt, manganese, and other non-ferrous metals normally contains a small amount of iron ore [1,2,3]
The iron ions in leaching solutions must be removed before subsequent electrodeposition and purification processes [4]
In the hydrometallurgical industry’s oxidation and iron removal industry, when compressed oxygen/air/oxygen-enriched air is introduced into the reaction tank using a gas distributor or a gas distributor device, the oxygen utilization rate is low, the ferrous ion oxidation rate is slow, and equipment costs and operating costs are high
Summary
The concentrate of zinc, nickel, copper, cobalt, manganese, and other non-ferrous metals normally contains a small amount of iron ore [1,2,3]. Metal sulfide ore or carbonate minerals, such as sphalerite, nickel sulfide ore, chalcopyrite, rhodochrosite, etc., are common ore materials used in hydrometallurgy Iron in these primary ore deposits normally exists in the form of ferrous ion (Fe2+). In the hydrometallurgical industry’s oxidation and iron removal industry, when compressed oxygen/air/oxygen-enriched air is introduced into the reaction tank using a gas distributor or a gas distributor device, the oxygen utilization rate is low, the ferrous ion oxidation rate is slow, and equipment costs and operating costs are high. This study proposes a new iron removal method based on strengthened oxygen oxidation of Fe2+ in solution by using a homemade venturi jet microbubble generator. One or more venturi jet pipes are installed at the bottom or middle of the oxidation iron removal mixing tank and connected with the mortar pump through the pipeline.
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