Devy Dyson

Oxidative leaching is a critical step in the processing of ores to extract metals from their mineral constituents. It is necessary to explore the thermodynamics and kinetics in order to optimize the leaching conditions. The project objective is to construct a modern zinc pressure leaching model that utilizes the population balance ideology and the multiple convolution integral ideology for the kinetic calculations while having the ability to take different feed size distributions as inputs from the user. The model should incorporate solubility data that the user can input for the iron species precipitation and have the ability to calculate the kinetics of the iron precipitation. Gibbs free energy minimization is also a challenge in the industry that the model could have the potential for solving. The free energy values can be used to predict thermodynamic equilibria for reaction systems that are crucial for then calculating the kinetics portion of the model. Therefore, the accuracy of these Gibbs free energy calculations directly affects the accuracy of the kinetic models; the thermodynamics must be validated with precision if the kinetic models are to be optimized. Accurate modeling would allow for predictable results at an economical cost; hence, there is an incentive to create improved models. I will be working closely with some industrial partners including Teck Cominco, CEZinc, HudBay Minerals, and Aurel Systems. My project will include site visits to verify model calculations and experiments. I look forward to working with the industry to successfully solve some of the challenges they face.