Abstract
ABSTRACT
The surface changes of synthetic hexagonal pyrrhotite Fe10S11 during laboratory wetting-drying treatment at 45°C were investigated using FTIR (DRIFT) spectroscopy, FTIR Raman microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. α-FeO(OH) (goethite) and elemental sulphur were the main products of the surface pyrrhotite oxidation. The formation of goethite and elemental sulphur was studied on the basis of the corrosion theory and using a potential-pH (Pourbaix) diagram. The appearance of oxidation products on the surface of pyrrhotite grains was detected between 10 and 20 h of treatment. The obtained results can be used for comparison of oxidation processes of synthetic pyrrhotite with that of natural sulphide minerals in dumps.
Key words:
synthetic pyrrhotite; surface oxidation; wetting-drying treatment; FTIR (DRIFT) spectroscopy; FTIR Raman microscopy; goethite; elemental sulphur; oxidation of sulphides in dumps
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