HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Montero, J. P. Articles by Vauclin, M. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Montero, J. P. Articles by Vauclin, M. Agricola Articles by Montero, J. P. Articles by Vauclin, M.

A Solute Transport Model for the Acid Leaching of Copper in Soil Columns

Dep. of Hydraulics and Environmental Engineering, Catholic Univ. of Chile, Casilla 306, Correo 22, Santiago, Chile

Roberto Abeliuk

Dames & Moore Chile Ltda., 11 de Septiembre 1860, of. 171, Santiago, Chile

Michel Vauclin

Laboratoire d'Etude des Transferts en Hydrologie et Environnement (INPG, Université Grenoble 1, CNRS URA 15/2) BP 53X, F38041, Grenoble, France

*Corresponding author.

ABSTRACT

Modeling solution mining technique has recently received much attention in order to estimate metal recovery rates. We studied the acid leaching of Cu minerals found in mine tailings using a mathematical transport model and lab-scale experiments on both batches and saturated soil columns. The model is a one-dimensional macroscopic solute transport model that considers simultaneously (i) the convection, dispersion, and consumption of H₂SO₄, and (ii) the convection, dispersion, solubilization, and adsorption-desorption of Cu. Time-dependent batch experiments were carried out to understand the relationship between H₂SO₄ consumption and Cu extraction in tailing Cu materials under stagnant conditions. Additionally, miscible-displacement experiments were conducted to obtain empirical data on Cu recovery in saturated soil columns that receive a constant pulse of H₂SO₄ and were designed to check the model's capability to simulate the transport phenomena. This was done by estimating the model parameters independently from the batch experiments. Since some findings from both experiments were consistent with each other, modeling assumptions, such as a second-order kinetic relationship for Cu dissolution (by H₂SO₄) and a first-order equilibrium isotherm for Cu, were appropriate in order to simulate the Cu recovery concentration at the outlet of each column. Finally, model equations were solved using finite differences and analytical solutions for Cu and H₂SO₄ transport equations, respectively, and model parameters were estimated using least squares techniques.

Received for publication May 22, 1992.