A Kinetic Study of Leaching of Metallic Indium in Sulfuric Acid Solutions
이응조E . C . Lee, 오영주Y . J . Oh
Abstract
The kinetics of metallic indium leaching from sulfuric acid solution has been studied by the use of a rotating disc method. The leaching rate was found to be zeroth order with respect to indium ion concentration in the bulk solution. The activation energy for the reaction was 2.9 Kcal/㏖. at above 45℃ while it was 5.9 ㎉/㏖ at below 45℃. It means the reaction is controlled by mass transfer at above 45℃ but the reaction mechanism is considered to be changed at lower temperatures. When the concentration of hydrogen ion was high compared to the oxygen concentration in solution, the leaching rate was linearly proportional to the partial pressure of oxygen. When the solution pH is over 3, leaching rate was practically null due to the formation of In₂O₃. When foreign ions such as Fe^(2+) or Zn^(2+) exist in the bulk solution, the leaching rate was decreased, because diffusion coefficients decreases with increased ionic strength.