LEACHING OF A COPPER-ZINC BULK SULFIDE CONCENTRATE USING AN AQUEOUS FERRIC SULFATE DILUTE-SOLUTION IN A SEMICONTINUOUS SYSTEM - KINETICS OF DISSOLUTION OF ZINC

The selective dissolution of zinc from a Spanish copper/zinc sulphide concentrate using acidic ferric sulphate solution at low concentration was investigated. A semicontinuous operation was employed in the experiments. The dissolution rate of zinc follows a parabolic equation which fits the Crank-Ginstling and Brounshtein model well. Dissolution of zinc up to nearly 80% was achieved; the residue was a copper concentrate suitable for treatment by a conventional pyrometallurgical process after separation of solid sulphur and lead sulphate. © 1990.