Recovery of Iron As Magnetite From Aqueous Ferrous Sulphate Solution

AbstractHydrometallurgical processes for iron, copper or zinc sulphide concentrates often produce undesirable ferrous sulphate. However, ferrous sulphate can be converted into potentially valuable products, namely magnetite and ammonium sulphate, according to the reaction3FeSO4 + 0.502 + 6NH3 + 3H3O → Fe3O4 + 3(NH4)2SO2 Laboratory investigations were carried out to, study the procedure and conditions under which the reaction takes place.It was established that magnetite precipitates instantaneously at low temperature in the presence of a mild oxidizing agent, provided a neutralizing agent is added in sufficient quantity to neutralize the liberated sulphate ions.The preferred conditions for the formation of chemically precipitated magnetite were determined along with settling and filtration characteristics of the magnetite slurry. Physical and magnetic properties of the finely divided magnetite product are also discussed. Resume Les procedes hydrometallurgiques pour les suljures concentres de fer, de cuivr...