Development of a Kinetic Model for Predicting the Dissolution Behavior of Activated Molybdenite by Mechanical Activation

In this research, leaching kinetic of activated molybdenite was studied. Mechanical activation of molybdenite concentrate was carried out at different conditions of milling and presence of alumina. Leaching experiments were performed in nitric acid media. The classic shrinking core model was modified, in order to study the leaching kinetic of activated molybdenite. The model was developed step by step. Finally, a comprehensive model was obtained which contains the effect of important parameters on the leaching rate of activated molybdenite. The calculated values of activation energy revealed that the activated molybdenite without additive is more reactive with the minimum of 20% and 56% reduction in activation energy value after 4 and 24 hours of milling, respectively. The minimum of 3% and 6% reduction in activation energy value was obtained for the activated molybdenite in presence of alumina after 2 and 12 hours of milling, respectively.