Variations of Physical Properties of a Solid Sample Containing Spent ZnO Catalyst, Carbon and Calcium Carbonate in the Zinc Recovery Reaction

Abstract

Total surface area, total pore volume, average pore diameter and morphology of the solid sample containing spent ZnO catalyst, carbon and calcium carbonate during zinc recovery reaction were monitored by a surface area meter and a scanning electron microscope, respectively. The experimental results indicated that total surface area, total pore volume and average pore diameter of the solid sample were first in increment with the reaction time, then reached a maximum, and after that decreased. These physical properties were also found to decrease upon increasing the temperature. But, the effect of temperature was not significant at high temperatures. The scanning electron microscopic studies showed that the spent catalyst became porous and round for long reaction times or high reaction temperatures due to the evolution of zinc vapor and sintering.