A partial equilibrium model to characterize the precipitation of ferric ion during the leaching of chalcopyrite with ferric sulfate

A partial equilibrium model has been developed and used to characterize the conditions under which precipitation of ferric ion occurs during the dump leaching of chalcopyrite ores. The precipitates which have been considered include amorphous Fe(OH)₃, α-FeOOH (goethite), and Na⁺, K⁺, Ag⁺, Pb²⁺, and H₃O⁺ jarosites. Solution of the model equations makes possible the determination of the concentrations of the solution species during leaching of the mineral. The concentration product for Fe(OH)₃ (am) and α-FeOOH was calculated for changing solution concentrations and compared with the solubility product constants to determine when precipitation would be expected thermodynamically. The K⁺, Na⁺, Ag⁺, and Pb²⁺ concentrations that would be necessary to satisfy the solubility product constants for the corresponding jarosites were calculated for various initial concentrations and varying amounts of O₂ consumption. Formerly Graduate Assistant, Ames Laboratory USDOE and Department of Chemical Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011