Optimization and kinetics of zirconium oxychloride (Zoc) dissolution using hno3

Abstract

The design of chemical reactors cannot be separated from the optimization data and reaction kinetics obtained from experimental measurements. Through the design idea, the purpose of this study was to obtain optimization data and the kinetics of Zirconium Oxide Chloride (ZOC) dissolution reactions using HNO3. The dissolution optimization was carried out by dissolving ZOC solids using HNO3 in a stirred container with several variations as contact time, HNO3 concentration, stirring and temperature. With the initial concentration of ZOC 6 g and HNO3 6 M obtained the best optimum contact time of 2 min and the number of conversions (α) of 0.96. Evaluation of kinetic data has been done based on the three types of shrinking core models. The results of kinetic predicted that the control of the ZOC dissolution reaction in HNO3 was in accordance with the surface chemical reaction model. Optimization results were showed that the best of contact time at 2 min, 6 M HNO3 concentration, temperature 60 °C and stirring speed 75 rpm. The correlation between temperature (T) and the calculated reaction rate constant (k) corresponds to equation ln kr = -2297.6/T + 6.2172, with frequency factors A = 501.29 and activation energy E = 19.09 kJ/mole.