Leaching kinetics of acid-soluble Cr(VI) in chromite ore processing residue (COPR) using hydrofluoric (HF) acid solution as a leaching agent was investigated for potential remediation of COPR with industrial waste water containing HF. The results show that HF can effectively destabilize the Cr(VI)-bearing minerals, resulting in the mobilization of Cr(VI) from COPR into the leachate. Particle size significantly influences the leaching of acid-soluble Cr(VI) from COPR, followed by leaching time, whereas the effects of HF concentration and leaching temperature are slight and the influence of stirring rate is negligible. The leaching process of acid-soluble Cr(VI) from COPR is controlled by the diffusion through the product layer. The apparent activation energy is 8.696 kJ/mol and the reaction orders with respect to HF concentration and particle size is 0.493 8 and -2.013 3, respectively.
The thermodynamic properties of the most important NaOH-NaAI(OH)4-H20 system in Bayer process for alumina production were investigated. A theoretical model for calculating the equilibrium constant of gibbsite dissolved in sodium hydroxide solution was proposed. New Pitzer model parameters and mixing parameters for the system NaOH-NaAI(OH)4-H20 were yielded and tested in the temperature range of 298.15-373.15 K. The results show that the proposed model for calculating the equilibrium constant of gibbsite dissolution is applicable and accurate. The obtained Pitzer model parameters of β(0)(NaAl(OH)4)、β(1)(NaAl(OH)4)和CΦ(NaAl(OH)4),Al(OH)4 for NaAI(OH)4, the binary mixing parameter of θ(OH-Al(OH)4-) with OH-, and the ternary mixing parameter of ψ(Na+OH-Al(OH)4-) for AI(OH)4- with OH- and Na+ are temperature-dependent. The prediction of the equilibrium solubility of gibbsite dissolved in sodium hydroxide solution was feasible in the temperature range of 298.15-373.15 K.