Evaluation of ammonium citrate tribasic as a leaching reagent for lead-bearing ore

In this study, the leaching process of a lead-bearing ore, consisting mainly of cerussite, in an ammonium citrate tribasic medium was investigated. The parameters including temperature, reagent concentration, particle size, and stirring speed were examined. During leaching process, the lead conversion rate increased with an increase in reagent concentration, reaction temperature, and stirring speed, and a decrease in particle size. The results show that about 95% of lead content was extracted from the samples with particle size range of +75-96 μm after 21 min leaching in 1.25 mol/L ammonium citrate tribasic solution at 800 r/min and 40°C. It was found that the leaching reaction followed the shrinking core model. The results indicated that ammonium citrate tribasic could be used as an effective leaching reagent for extracting lead from lead oxide ore.