Abstract
The oxidative ammonia/ammonium sulphate leaching of an artificial matte was carried out to investigate the extraction behavior of copper, nickel, and cobalt. The composition of the synthetically prepared Cu–Ni–Co–Fe matte was: 24.9% Cu, 35.1% Ni, 4.05% Co, 11.5% Fe, and 24.5% S. The major mineral phases associated with the matte were: CuFeS 2, CuS 2, (FeNi) 9S 8, (FeNi)S 2, Ni 9S 8, Ni 3S 2, (CoFeNi) 9S 8 and Co metal. To optimize the leaching conditions, parameters like oxygen partial pressure, temperature, concentration of leaching reagents and time were studied. Under optimum leaching conditions (2 M NH 4OH + 2 M (NH 4) 2SO 4, 213 psi pressure, 200 °C and 1 h), 93.8% Cu, 85.3% Ni and 76.5% Co were effectively recovered. From the X-ray diffraction analysis, the partially undissolved Cu, Ni and Co phases were assumed to be CuFeS 2, (FeNi) 9S 8 and (CoFeNi) 9S 8, respectively. The iron present in the CuFeS 2 phase was mostly converted to goethite [α-FeO(OH)], as the CuFeS 2 phase dissociated and subsequently remained in the residue.
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