Abstract:The kinetics of oxidative leaching of ocean polymetallic nodules in molten potassium hydroxide medium was investigated in terms of the gas-flow rate, stirring rate, reaction time, reaction temperature and partial pressure of oxygen on the ratio of manganese conversion in ocean polymetallic nodules. The category of the rate controlling step was determined. The process of the liquid-phase oxidation reaction can be described by surface chemical reaction-controlled non-reaction shrinking core model(SCM), the apparent activation energy was achieved and the rate equation was put forward. From the equation, it can be concluded that the reaction rate mainly depends on the reaction temperature and the partial pressure of oxygen.

Key words: ocean polymetallic nodule; oxidative leaching; kinetics; reaction