Study on leaching kinetics of laterite ore using hydrochloric acid

The process of atmosphere-pressure acid leaching of laterites has attracted considerable attention in the nickel industry in recent years. However, the leaching kinetics of laterite using hydrochloride acid has not yet been fully researched. In this paper, the mineral analysis of the ore was carried out, and the leaching mechanism of different minerals at different time was studied comprehensively. The kinetics analysis of the leaching process of nickel, cobalt and manganese showed that the kinetics model of diffusion controlling was suitable and could be described by the linear equation, 1-3(1-a)2/3+2(1-a)=k2t. Based on the linear equation and the Arrhenius equation, the values of activation energy of metal leaching can be deduced (11.56 kJ/mol for nickel, 11.26 kJ/mol for cobalt and 10.77 kJ/mol for manganese). Study of leaching mechanism shows that the order of these minerals dissolution is: goethite, lizardite, magnetite and hematite. Due to the original or product of silica, magnetite, hematite and talc, they can form the solid film which hinders the leaching of valuable metals. Thus, the diffusion controlling step is inner diffusion, namely solid film diffusion controlling.