The oxidation of Fe(II) with Cu(II) in acidic sulfate solutions with air at elevated pressures

Abstract

The oxidation of ferrous ions in acidic sulfate solutions in the presence of cupric ions at elevated air pressures was investigated in a high-intensity gas–liquid contactor. The study was required for the design of the regeneration steps of the novel Vitrisol® desulphurization process. The effects of the Fe2+ concentration, Cu2+ concentration, Fe3+ concentration, initial H2SO4 concentration, and partial oxygen pressure on the reaction rate were determined at three different temperatures, i.e., T = 50 °C, 70 °C, and 90 °C. Most of the experiments were determined to be affected by the mass transfer of oxygen, and therefore true intrinsic kinetics could not be fully determined. An increase in Fe2+ and Cu2+ concentrations, as well as the partial pressure of oxygen and temperature, increased the Fe2+ oxidation rate. H2SO4 did not influence the Fe2+ oxidation rate. An increase in Fe3+ concentration decreased the Fe2+ oxidation rate. Although determined from experiments partially affected by mass transfer, a first order of reaction in Fe2+ was observed, fractional orders in both Cu2+ and O2 were measured, a zero order in H2SO4 was determined, and a negative, fractional order in Fe3+ was obtained. The activation energy was estimated to be 31.3 kJ/mol.