Extraction of magnesia from Egyptian serpentine ore via reaction with different acids .1. Reaction with sulfuric acid

The present study is concerned with the effectiveness of use of local Egyptian serpentine ore for production of magnesium sulfate. An investigation of the ore composition was carried out by means of X-ray diffractometry and chemical analysis. The reaction of sulfuric acid with the ore was studied at different leach parameters under laboratory conditions for the uncalcined and calcined ore. The dissolution rate constants of magnesia were determined by the analysis of the experimental data The resultant activation energy of reaction between the acid and the studied ore was lower than the values reported previously. This result is discussed in terms of structural changes of serpentine during the calcination of ore which may affect its reactivity towards acids. The high yield of magnesia extraction from the ore emphasizes the possibility of exploitation of the ore in the preparation of sulfate salt with a lower price.