CONFIRMATION OF A SULFUR-RICH LAYER ON PYRITE AFTER OXIDATIVE DISSOLUTION BY FE(III) IONS AROUND PH 2

Abstract

The stoichiometry of pyrite dissolution by Fe(II) ions was studied in chloride media around pH 2. Pyrite was found to dissolve nonstoichiometrically during the initial tens of hours and a S-rich layer was formed on the pyrite due to preferential dissolution of iron. The major constituent of the layer was elemental S, identified by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman spectroscopy.