In this study, changes in physicochemical properties and leachability of
indium from mechanically activated hard zinc residue by planetary mill were
investigated. The results showed that mechanical activation increased
specific surface area, reaction activity of hard zinc residue, and decreased
its particle size, which had a positive effect on indium extraction from hard
zinc residue in hydrochloric acid solution. Kinetics of indium leaching from
unmilled and activated hard zinc residue were also investigated,
respectively. It was found that temperature had an obvious effect on indium
leaching rate. Two different kinetic models corresponding to reactions which
are diffusion controlled, [1-(1- x)1/3]2=kt and (1-2x/3)-(1-x)2/3=kt were
used to describe the kinetics of indium leaching from unmilled sample and
activated sample, respectively. Their activation energies were determined to
be 17.89 kJ/mol (umilled) and 11.65 kJ/mol (activated) within the temperature
range of 30?C to 90?C, which is characteristic for a diffusion controlled
process. The values of activation energy demonstrated that the leaching
reaction of indium became less sensitive to temperature after hard zinc
residue mechanically activated by planetary mill.