The Recovery of Cu, Co, Zn, and Mn from a Complex Oxide Ore Using an Enhanced Reduction Leaching
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Experimental
2.1. Materials and Chemicals
2.2. Experimental Procedures
2.3. Methods of Analysis
3. Results and Discussion
3.1. Mineralogy
3.2. Oxidation–Reduction Leaching
3.3. Reduction Leaching
3.3.1. Comparison between Leaching Regimes Using Oxidation–Reduction and Reduction Only
3.3.2. Effect of Temperature
3.3.3. Effect of Acid Additions
3.4. Economical Aspect on the Proposed Process
4. Conclusions
- (a)
- The leaching operation at the Boleo process is currently conducted through two stages, with the addition of 100–120 kg sulphuric acid/tonne ore. This study confirms that under these two-stage leaching regimes, a total of 85–88% Cu was extracted in 4 h, first at an oxidising condition with Eh of ~900 mV (vs. SCE), followed by the addition of SO2 as sulphurous acid to reduce the Eh to 350–370 mV (vs. SCE). The extractions of Mn, Co, and Zn reached 92%, 80%, and 60%, respectively, after 4 h of combined oxidation–reduction leaching at 70 °C.
- (b)
- However, using a 25 kg addition of SO2/tonne ore (equivalent to 7.5 g/L SO2 added as sulphurous acid) together with 100–120kg sulphuric acid/tonne ore in a single-stage reduction leaching, similar metal recoveries of 85%, 80%, 60%, and 92% for Cu, Co, Zn, and Mn, respectively, were reached within only 2 h (at Eh of 350–370 mV (vs. SCE) and pH 0.8–1.2).
- (c)
- The dissolution of Cu sulphides and oxides of Mn(IV) or Fe(III) under reduction conditions by sulphurous acid further released Cu simultaneously with the leaching of Cu oxide minerals by sulphuric acid.
Author Contributions
Funding
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
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Element | Cu | Co | Zn | Mn | Fe | Al | Ca | Mg | K | S | Si |
(%) | 1.23 | 0.08 | 0.48 | 2.53 | 8.66 | 7.16 | 1.42 | 2.43 | 1.25 | 0.42 | 22.40 |
Minerals | Formula | Sample | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Feed | A/O | A/L | ||
Quartz | SiO2 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 2.0 |
Smectite group (1) | X0.3Y2-3Z4O10(OH)2·nH2O | 73.9 | 68.4 | 69.0 |
Plagioclase | NaAlSi3O6–CaAl2Si2O8 | 14.3 | 18.4 | 18.0 |
Gypsum | CaSO4·2(H2O)2 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.7 |
Bassanite | CaSO4·0.5(H2O)2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.6 |
K-Feldspar | KAlSi3O8 | 5.1 | 3.9 | 7.1 |
Calcite | CaCO3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Goethite | FeO(OH) | 5.3 | 7.2 | 2.6 |
Maghemite | Fe2O3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Unassigned Peak | - | Tr | Tr | Tr |
Total | 100 | 100 | 100 |
Component | Concentration, g/L (mol/L) | ||
---|---|---|---|
40 °C | 50 °C | 70 °C | |
Cu | 3.57 (0.056) | 4.00 (0.063) | 4.55 (0.071) |
Mn | 5.27 (0.096) | 5.07 (0.092) | 5.43 (0.098) |
Co | 0.089 (0.0015) | 0.103 (0.0017) | 0.119 (0.002) |
Zn | 0.205 (0.003) | 0.294 (0.004) | 0.387 (0.005) |
Fe | 0.477 (0.008) | 0.673 (0.012) | 0.730 (0.013) |
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Seo, S.; Han, K.S.; Lee, S.I.; Kim, M.J. The Recovery of Cu, Co, Zn, and Mn from a Complex Oxide Ore Using an Enhanced Reduction Leaching. Metals 2021, 11, 1636. https://doi.org/10.3390/met11101636
Seo S, Han KS, Lee SI, Kim MJ. The Recovery of Cu, Co, Zn, and Mn from a Complex Oxide Ore Using an Enhanced Reduction Leaching. Metals. 2021; 11(10):1636. https://doi.org/10.3390/met11101636
Chicago/Turabian StyleSeo, Sangyun, Kyu Sung Han, Sung Il Lee, and Myong Jun Kim. 2021. "The Recovery of Cu, Co, Zn, and Mn from a Complex Oxide Ore Using an Enhanced Reduction Leaching" Metals 11, no. 10: 1636. https://doi.org/10.3390/met11101636