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Leaching kinetics of ironmaking blast furnace slag as a source of calcium for CO₂ sequestration.
1 , * 1 , 1 , 1 , 2
1  Clean Technology and Applied Materials Research Group, Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Vaal University of Technology, Private Bag X021, Vanderbijlpark 1911, South Africa
2  Centre for Minerals Research, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
Academic Editor: Blaž Likozar

Abstract:

The study demonstrated that increasing the concentration of the solvent enhances the efficiency of calcium extraction; however, it also causes the leaching of other elements, such as magnesium, which can impede the carbonation stage. The research also revealed that the extraction of calcium from the largest particles is constrained by mass transfer and the accessibility of calcium from the particle. A portable laboratory orbital shaking incubator was used for the leaching experiments. In addition, XRF and AAS were utilized for the sample characterization of solid residues and leach liquor, respectively. The authors hypothesize that the reaction products build up and hinder the reaction on the surface layer of the particles. On the other hand, with the smallest particle size, more calcium can be extracted before the surface is obstructed, and the maximum extraction efficiency has not been achieved yet. Based on the activation energy value of 70.51 kJ/mol, it is less likely that the leaching of blast furnace slag in ammonium nitrate is a product-layer-diffusion-controlled process, as the activation energy for this type of process is usually below 20 kJ/mol. Instead, the higher activation energy suggests that the leaching process may be controlled by surface chemical reactions or a mixed mechanism. However, more detailed analysis and experimental data would be required to confirm the reaction mechanism.

Keywords: Ironmaking Blast Furnace Slag, Leaching Reaction, Shrinking Core Models, CO2 Sequestration

 
 
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