Intrinsic kinetics of the hydrogen reduction of copper sulfate: Determination by a nonisothermal technique

The direct hydrogen reduction of metal sulfates may provide an attractive method for producing high-purity metals. In this work the intrinsic kinetics, unaffected by diffusional and mass transfer effects, of the hydrogen reduction of copper sulfate particles have been determined using a nonisothermal technique. The reduction rate shows a first-order dependence on the hydrogen partial pressure and the amount of unreacted copper sulfate. The activation energy of the reaction was determined to be 63.7 kJ/mol. SUN K. KIM, formerly Graduate Student in the Department of Metallurgy and Metallurgical Engineering, University of Utah.