Abstract:
The paper presents a theoretical analysis of MnO2-FeS2 dissolution in acidic media. It is assumed that MnO2 and FeS2 dissolve through the operations of MnO2/Fe2+ and FeS2/Fe3+ corrosion couples. Al the mixed potential E-m, the half cell reactions establish kinetic equilibria to satisfy charge balance. Kinetic expressions for the mixed potential, E-m, and the mixed current, i(m), are derived based on the position of E-m on different segments of the hypothetical polarization curves. Finally, the mechanism by which the rates of reactions of the two couples balance each ether is discussed. (C) 1998 Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.