US EPA

2432386 

Journal Article 

LEACHING OF CHALCOPYRITE CONCENTRATE WITH ORGANIC LIGAND COMPOUNDS 

Solis-Marcial, OJ; Lapidus, GT 

2012 

605-612 

WOS:000327405100055 

The oxidative dissolution of copper from refractory minerals, such as chalcopyrite, represents a technological challenge that has occupied hydrometallurgists for more than half a century. Innumerable processes have been suggested, but the majority operates at high temperatures or employs corrosive media. The origin of this refractory nature is the formation of passivating phases of iron(III) or copper. One option is to add non-corrosive ligands that complex these metal ions, thereby facilitating their dissolution. In the present work, the effect of acetone in sulfuric acid solutions was studied. The initial experiments were on chalcopyrite carbon paste electrodes using cyclic voltammetry, where greater reactivity was observed. Later, leaching tests with hydrogen peroxide, cupric sulfate and ozone and, as oxidants, were performed. High extractions were achieved in three hours at 50 degrees C. The solid residues contained the iron in the form of Fe2O3 and FeOOH. 

Chalcopyrite; Leaching; Acetone