Vanadium (V) and yttrium (Y) were extracted from coal fly ash by a leaching process utilizing sulfuric acid with assistance of ultrasonic and hydrogen peroxide. Response surface methodology was applied to optimize main factors including solid-to-liquid (S/L) ratio, H 2 SO 4 percentage, and H 2 O 2 percentage. Under optimal conditions recovery rates for V and Y were 100 % and 97 %, respectively. A modified shrinking core model to study the kinetic leaching showed that the mass diffusion step controlled the reaction rate. The enthalpies for V and Y recovery indicated that the process was endothermic. Gibbs energy for both metals was negative, i.e., the process was spontaneous. Field emission scanning electron microscopy was applied to determine the effects of acid concentration and ultrasound on the surface of coal fly ash. Results demonstrated that the leaching agent could degrade and diffuse to coal ash particles.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.