Sulfation Roasting Using Bubble Column Reactor — 12p — Allie Lucas

Mineral extraction and processing are critical as their products are used in our everyday lives. Traditional methods of sulfide mineral refining such as roasting, a process that turns sulfides into oxides in the presence of high temperature and air, involve high energy consumption and produces toxic gases, which cause environmental impacts. To address these issues, the study of sulfation roasting using a bubble column reactor was performed with sphalerite, a zinc sulfide mineral. Different variables, such as oxygen content, temperature, and particle size were tested to see how much zinc was leached from the sulfation roasting. Results show sulfation roasting in the bubble column reactor is not effective at room temperature, however at higher temperatures and oxygen content it is expected to work. The bubble column reactor combines hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical techniques to create a sulfide refining process that uses less energy and produces less toxic off gas, reducing environmental impacts as well as saving money.

South Dakota School of Mines & Technology
Dr. William Cross