Author(s)

C. I. Nwoye, I. E. Mbuka

Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Federal University of Technology Owerri, Nigeria..
Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka,Anambra State, Nigeria..

A model for assessment and computational analysis of the concentration of zinc dissolved during leaching of sphalerite in butanoic acid solution has been derived. The model Zn = Antilog [(exp(γ/α))^0.6173] is dependent on the initial and final pH of the leaching solution. The validity of the model was found to be rooted in the expression (Log Zn)^1.62 = exp(γ/α) where both sides of the expression are approximately equal to 3. The maximum deviation of the model-predicted concentrations of dissolved zinc from that of the corresponding experimental values is less than 14% which is quite within the acceptable deviation limit of experimental results.

Model, Dissolved Zinc, Sphalerite, Butanoic Acid Solution, Leaching.

C. Nwoye and I. Mbuka, "Model for Assessment and Computational Analysis of the Concentration of Zinc Dissolved during Leaching of Sphalerite in Butanoic Acid Solution," Journal of Minerals and Materials Characterization and Engineering, Vol. 9 No. 5, 2010, pp. 483-493. doi: 10.4236/jmmce.2010.95034.