Improving the Diffusion Controlled Cementation of Copper Ions on a Fixed Bed of Zinc Raschig Rings Using Flow Pulses in a Batch Reactor

Abstract

This work investigates the possibility of improving the kinetics of the diffusion controlled cementation of copper on a fixed bed of zinc Raschig rings in a batch reactor by using flow pulses induced through the bed by a pulsating perforated disc. The kinetics of the cementation reaction was investigated under different conditions of initial concentration of copper ions, frequency and amplitude of oscillation (vibration velocity), zinc ring diameter, bed height and temperature. The effect of temperature was found to fit the Arrhenius equation with an activation energy of 5.5 kcal/mole which confirms the diffusion controlled nature of the reaction. A dimensionless correlation in the form that: Sh = 6.9 Re0.55 Sc0.33 (Pd/Bh)0.49 was deduced. Industrial application of the results obtained was discussed.