The dissolution mechanism of metal sulfides in the acidic solution has not been sufficiently theorized because of their complex dissolution. The present investigation on the contribution of dissolved oxygen to the dissolution reactions was carried out, in order to elucidate the dissolution mechanism of ZnS and the selective-direct leaching of ZnS from ZnS-CuS mixture concentrates.
The experimental results obtained were as follows:
(1) In the dissolution of ZnS alone, the reaction of the H
2S-evolution type occurred mainly in the experimental range of pH. In the dissolution of the ZnS-CuS mixture, the selective dissolution reaction of ZnS (S°-formation type in this case) occurred in addition to H
2S-evolution reaction owing to the galvanic reciprocal reaction. This reaction is as follows:
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(2) In the dissolution of ZnS alone, the effect of dissolved oxygen on the dissolution of ZnS was very little in the acidic solution of pH 1.0. In the acidic solution of pH-0.5, the amount of dissolved Zn
2+ decreased as the amount of dissolved oxygen increased.
(3) In the dissolution of the ZnS-CuS mixture, the amount of dissolved Zn
2+ and the amount of formation of S° in the acidic solution of pH 1.0 increased with increase in CuS addition and/or oxygen supply as compared with the dissolution of ZnS alone.
(4) In the dissolution of the ZnS-CuS mixture in the acidic solution of pH-0.5, the amount of formation of S° increased with increase in CuS addition or oxygen supply, but the amount of dissolved Zn
2+ decreased as compared with the dissolution of ZnS alone. When a sufficient amount of oxygen was supplied, the amount of formation of S° increased and the amount of dissolved Zn
2+ remarkably decreased.
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