RI 7638 Kinetics Of Thermal Decomposition Of Copper (II) Sulfate And Copper (II) Oxysulfate

Thermal decomposition of copper (II) sulfate (CUS04) and copper (II) oxy-sulfate (CuO?CUS04) are important steps in the overall oxidative roasting of covellite (CuS) and chalcocite (Cu2S). Nonisothermal thermogravimetric techniques were used to investigate the decomposition reactions in flowing Na and air. Thermal decomposition of CUS04 and CuO?CUS04 followed "linear" kinetics with an apparent activation energy of 55±2 and 66±3 kcal per mole decomposed, respectively. These apparent activation energies comply with those previously reported when isothermal kinetic techniques were used. The addition of oxygen decreased the rate of decomposition, while small amounts of iron which were admixed with CuO?CUS04 did not have a significant effect. Neither oxygen nor iron had any appreciable effect on the apparent activation energy of the decomposition reaction.