In this study, the dissolution of magnesite particles in aqueous lactic acid solutions was investigated in a batch reactor employing the parameters of stirring speed, particle size, temperature and acid concentration. The shrinking core model was evaluated to determine the effect of particle size, temperature and concentration. It was also found that the stirring speed did not change the dissolution. Consequently, it was determined that the dissolution rate is controlled by surface chemical reaction. The activation energy of the process was determined to be 50.3 U mol(-1). (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.