Extraction of Iron and Other Metals from Copper Tailings through Leaching

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

This is an interesting paper which is worth publishing after some minor modifications.

Page 2 Line 71.

Replace y with and.

Lines 75-77.

Give more information on how XRD data were collected.

How were samples mounted for XRD, what angular range was used. What was the X-ray source used and detector used? The positions of the Quartz peaks in Figures 5 and 7 indicated that a Cu anode X-ray tube was used. If a Cu anode X-ray tube was used were any precautions to minimise fluorescence from the Fe present in the samples?

Line 84

Replace a SEM-EDX and XRD analysis with SEM-EDX and XRD analyses

Page 3 Line 91

Replaced weighted with weighed

Page 4 Line 120

Replot Figures 3 (a) (b) on the same particle size scale on x-axis

Page 5 Line 124 also Page 6 Line 147

Give a better plot of the XRD data, some peaks are marked as unidentified but not all peaks are marked

Page 6 Line 145

Figure 6, text showing EDX analyses are too small to be read. Replot so this text can be read or put the EDX analyses for both samples into a separate table.

Page 8 Line 229-230. Figure 9

Could the grid lines in these radar charts be made more visible

 

 

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Reviewer's comments:

In this paper, tailing samples were leached with hydrochloric acid of concentrations greater than 3 M, considering the monitoring of iron, copper, aluminum, calcium and magnesium, as relevant elements of the leached solution. Time and temperature were other variables studied. The original tailing sample was taken by trial pits, and a size distribution analysis was performed. The process generated an insoluble solid, rich in aluminosilicates, and an acid liquid solution with different metal ions. Although this paper presents some new results, some minor revisions should be made before publication.  

1. I suggest that the authors give the detailed chemical composition of the Copper tailing and leaching products, such as the XRF results.

2. For page 2 and lines 54-60, Acid leaching is widely used in mineral extraction and the recycling of valuable metals. I suggest the author cite the following latest report. Effective separation and recovery of valuable metals from waste Ni-based batteries: A comprehensive review.

3. Please give the distribution curve of the cumulative volume fraction of particle size in Figure 3 (b), and the particle size (μm) of 60 mesh also should be provided.

4. Please give the necessary subheadings in Figures 4 and 6, such as SEM image (a), EDS mapping (b)...... In addition, please provide a clear scale in Figures 4 and 6.

5. Please give the chemical formula of different minerals in Figures 5 and 7.

6. Please give the optimal leaching process parameters and the leaching rate in Conclusions.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf