Leaching of Metals from Ores with Ultrasound

Abstract

Ultrasound can be used for leaching application to increase both dissolution (reaction) rates and yields of products (metal values). Faster process kinetics and reduced reagent consumption could be claimed as the main advantages of the suggested approach. The influence of ultrasound on the leaching process has a direct bearing on the dissipated acoustic power per unit volume rather than on the acoustic intensity, expressed as Wcm^-2. For the overall process the yields are higher and the working conditions are mild (lower temperature, shorter procedure) with selectivity. Mechanism has been hypothesised by the present investigators for understanding the enhanced leaching using ultrasound over and above conventional leaching. Some experimental details in ultrasonic reactors of laboratory scale are discussed. After summarising the benefits of ultrasound leaching, the future prospects of industrial ultrasonic reactors for leaching application are described.

Keywords:

• Ultrasound
• sonication
• cavitation
• leaching