Simulation of iron oxide/silica precipitation in the paragoethite process for the removal of iron from acidic zinc leach solutions

An investigation of the simultaneous precipitation of iron oxide and silica species from acidic solutions was conducted, simulating the Paragoethite Process, an iron-removal stage employed in zinc hydrometallurgy. Laboratory-based continuous crystallisation experiments were carried under the primary...

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Main Authors: Dyer, L., Richmond, William, Fawell, Phillip
Format: Journal Article
Published: Elsevier Science BV 2012
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/11615
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author Dyer, L.
Richmond, William
Fawell, Phillip
author_facet Dyer, L.
Richmond, William
Fawell, Phillip
author_sort Dyer, L.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description An investigation of the simultaneous precipitation of iron oxide and silica species from acidic solutions was conducted, simulating the Paragoethite Process, an iron-removal stage employed in zinc hydrometallurgy. Laboratory-based continuous crystallisation experiments were carried under the primary conditions employed in industry, with pH (at 85°C) maintained at 2.65, the combined Fe and Si concentration at 0.1128 M (unless otherwise stated) and Si:Fe ratios varied from 0 to 0.43. The crystal structure of the residues produced was characterised, with the extent of iron and silicate removal quantified and properties relating to aggregate structure also measured. It is shown that the degree of silica polymerisation prior to the precipitation reaction dictates the mechanism of co-precipitation and thereby the properties of the residue. In the presence of polymerised silica, less dense aggregates of finer mean particle size are formed, which has negative implications for dewatering. Conversely, where silica is allowed to polymerise prior to the iron precipitation reaction, a greater proportion of silica is removed from solution. Close control of silica polymerisation in the feed liquor is therefore required to reach a compromise between its beneficial and detrimental influences, and to thereby obtain optimal performance.
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institution Curtin University Malaysia
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publishDate 2012
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-116152019-02-19T05:34:46Z Simulation of iron oxide/silica precipitation in the paragoethite process for the removal of iron from acidic zinc leach solutions Dyer, L. Richmond, William Fawell, Phillip Paragoethite silica simulation iron An investigation of the simultaneous precipitation of iron oxide and silica species from acidic solutions was conducted, simulating the Paragoethite Process, an iron-removal stage employed in zinc hydrometallurgy. Laboratory-based continuous crystallisation experiments were carried under the primary conditions employed in industry, with pH (at 85°C) maintained at 2.65, the combined Fe and Si concentration at 0.1128 M (unless otherwise stated) and Si:Fe ratios varied from 0 to 0.43. The crystal structure of the residues produced was characterised, with the extent of iron and silicate removal quantified and properties relating to aggregate structure also measured. It is shown that the degree of silica polymerisation prior to the precipitation reaction dictates the mechanism of co-precipitation and thereby the properties of the residue. In the presence of polymerised silica, less dense aggregates of finer mean particle size are formed, which has negative implications for dewatering. Conversely, where silica is allowed to polymerise prior to the iron precipitation reaction, a greater proportion of silica is removed from solution. Close control of silica polymerisation in the feed liquor is therefore required to reach a compromise between its beneficial and detrimental influences, and to thereby obtain optimal performance. 2012 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/11615 10.1016/j.hydromet.2012.02.017 Elsevier Science BV fulltext
spellingShingle Paragoethite
silica
simulation
iron
Dyer, L.
Richmond, William
Fawell, Phillip
Simulation of iron oxide/silica precipitation in the paragoethite process for the removal of iron from acidic zinc leach solutions
title Simulation of iron oxide/silica precipitation in the paragoethite process for the removal of iron from acidic zinc leach solutions
title_full Simulation of iron oxide/silica precipitation in the paragoethite process for the removal of iron from acidic zinc leach solutions
title_fullStr Simulation of iron oxide/silica precipitation in the paragoethite process for the removal of iron from acidic zinc leach solutions
title_full_unstemmed Simulation of iron oxide/silica precipitation in the paragoethite process for the removal of iron from acidic zinc leach solutions
title_short Simulation of iron oxide/silica precipitation in the paragoethite process for the removal of iron from acidic zinc leach solutions
title_sort simulation of iron oxide/silica precipitation in the paragoethite process for the removal of iron from acidic zinc leach solutions
topic Paragoethite
silica
simulation
iron
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/11615