Oxidative degradation of lignosulfonates during pressure leaching of zinc concentrates
https://doi.org/10.17073/0021-3438-2025-3-28-36
Abstract
This study investigates the effect of preliminary autoclave oxidation with molecular oxygen (Т = 423 K, РО₂ = 0.6 MPa, τ = 2 h) on lignosulfonates differing in chemical composition and molecular weight distribution. Oxidation resulted in a reduction of hydroxyl groups and an increase in carbonyl groups, along with marked changes in solution properties such as redox potential, pH, specific conductivity, and surface tension at the liquid–gas interface. The functional activity of the initial and oxidized lignosulfonates was compared in terms of their ability to remove elemental sulfur films from the sphalerite surface under high-temperature oxidative pressure leaching conditions. The findings show that oxidative treatment decreases the effectiveness of lignosulfonates by diminishing their surface activity.
Keywords
high-temperature pressure leaching,
sphalerite,
surfactant,
lignosulfonates,
oxidative degradation,
recovery,
leaching
Supporting agencies: The study was financially supported by the State Assignment of the Russian Federation (grant No. 075-03-2024-009/1, FEUZ-2024-0010).
About the Authors
T. N. Lugovitskaya
Ural Federal University n.a. the First President of Russia B.N. Yeltsin (UrFU)
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Tatyana N. Lugovitskaya – Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Associate
Professor-Researcher, Department of the metallurgy of nonferrous metals (NFM)
19 Mira Str., Ekaterinburg 620002
O. S. Anisimova
Ural Federal University n.a. the First President of Russia B.N. Yeltsin (UrFU)
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Olga S. Anisimova – Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Associate Professor of the Department of NFM
19 Mira Str., Ekaterinburg 620002
D. A. Rogozhnikov
Ural Federal University n.a. the First President of Russia B.N. Yeltsin (UrFU)
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Denis A. Rogozhnikov – Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Head of the Scientific, Laboratory of advanced technologies for complex processing of mineral and man-made raw materials of non-ferrous and ferrous metals
19 Mira Str., Ekaterinburg 620002
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Review
For citations:
Lugovitskaya T.N., Anisimova O.S., Rogozhnikov D.A. Oxidative degradation of lignosulfonates during pressure leaching of zinc concentrates. Izvestiya. Non-Ferrous Metallurgy. 2025;(3):28-36. https://doi.org/10.17073/0021-3438-2025-3-28-36
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