Leaching reaction and kinetics of zinc from indium-bearing zinc ferrite under microwave heating

Abstract

Leaching of zinc from indium-bearing zinc ferrite (IBZF) under microwave heating (MH) has been investigated. The result showed microwave intensified the leaching reaction of IBZF in the MH process. Microwave had a great nonthermal effect on the leaching reaction. The effective collision and the H₂SO₄ activation under the action of microwave belonged to the nonthermal microwave effect. Particle size of IBZF in the range from 45 to 150 μm almost had no effect on the zinc leaching in the MH process. Leaching temperature and leaching time had important effects on the zinc leaching. Zinc leaching in the MH process obeyed the unreacted shrinking core model very well, and the activation energy was 73.747 kJ/mol. The kinetic equation was \(1 - (1 - x)^{1/3} = 8.82 \times 10^8 e^{ - 73.747 \times 10^3 /RT} t\). The ratio of frequency factor of K_0(In)/K_0(Zn) was up to 4.69, indicating the effect of microwave intensification on the indium leaching was greater than that on the zinc leaching.