OXIDATIVE LEACHING OF MECHANICALLY ACTIVATED SPHALERITE

The methods of BET, SEM, XRD and EPR were used for studying the changes in surface and bulk properties of sphalerite produced by mechanical activation in a vibrating mill. By leaching the mechanically activated samples with a 4% solution of hydrogen peroxide 65-100% recovery of zinc into the leach solution was achieved in the course of 120 min at atmospheric pressure and room temperature. In the process of mechanical activation of sphalerite the combined influence of surface area and bulk properties leads to a positive effect on the leaching kinetics and to further phenomena, among which their influence on the reaction course without having any side effects on the environment is the most significant.