Leaching of chalcopyrite concentrate by hydrogen peroxide in sulphuric acid solution

Abstract

Due to complex mineralogy and/or low content of base metals, some ores and mineral concentrates are not suitable for pyrometallurgical treatment. Therefore, those ores and concentrates have to be treated by application of the hydrometallurgical processes. Lower energy consumption and lower environmental impact are important advantages of hydrometallurgy over pyrometallurgy. Leaching of sulphide minerals requires presence of oxidants in acidic environment. Influence of temperature on leaching degree of copper from chalcopyrite in presence of hydrogen peroxide under atmospheric pressure was investigated in this paper. Results of the chemical and X-ray diffraction analysis of the concentrate and leaching residue were used in order to explain mechanism of the copper leaching from the mineral concentrate.

Primena hidrometalurških procesa omogućava proizvodnju metala iz ruda i koncentrata koji, zbog kompleksne mineralogije i/ili niskog sadržaja metala, nisu pogodni za pirometaluršku preradu. Pored toga, manja potrošnja energije i manji uticaj na životnu sredinu su važne prednosti hidrometalurgije u odnosu na konvencionalne pirometalurške procese. Prilikom luženja sulfidnih minerala sumpornom kiselinom rastvor za luženje mora sadržati oksidaciono sredstvo za oksidaciju sulfidnog sumpora. U ovom radu je ispitivan uticaj temperature na stepen izluženja bakra iz halkopiritnog koncentrata u prisustvu vodonik-peroksida kao oksidansa pri atmosferskom pritisku. Hemijska i rendgenska difrakciona analiza polaznog koncentrata i čvrstog ostatka nakon luženja su korišćene za određivanje mehanizma procesa luženja bakra iz ispitivanog koncentrata.