Mass transfer in heap leaching of weathered crust elution deposited rare earth ore with Al2(SO4)3 solution

In order to increase efficiency and avoid NH4+–N pollution in the leaching process of weathered crust elution-deposited rare earth ores, the mass transfer in heap leaching with Al2(SO4)3 solution was simulated with column elution and experimentally optimized. The results indicate that the leaching yield is also up to 99 % for leaching with aluminum sulfate instead of ammonium sulfate. The optimal flow rate is 60 mL/h, the height equivalent to a theoretical plate (HETP) is 1.29 mm correspondingly. The peak value position of RE3+ is 60 mL/h, Fe3+ is 100 mL/h, however, Al3+ is 150 mL/h, and the heap leaching process has kinetic separation effect.