Characterization study and recovery of copper from low grade copper ore through hydrometallurgical route

Abstract

Characterization studies were conducted on low grade copper ore with the aid of standard approaches. The Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) study specifies the semi-quantitative data of qualitatively analyzed chemical elements present in the ore sample. Optical Microscopy (OM) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) endorse the presence of chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) and pyrites along with other different mineral phases in the ore sample. Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Mossbauer spectroscopy studies confirm the formation of CuO and Fe2O3 after roasting at 700 °C. The better copper recovery from low grade copper ore was achieved through optimized leaching parameters. It was found that the particle size of −63+53 µm can be leached up to 94.96 % of copper using a lixiviant reagent mixture (30 vol. % hydrogen peroxide and 0.5 M sulfuric acid) under magnetic stirring for 30 min at a constant speed of 300 rpm, by keeping the liquid/solid (L/S) ratio at 20/2 ml/g. Moreover, the solvent extraction process works well with the pregnant leach solution, whereby, 98.9 % of copper extraction is possible, and the loading time is less than a minute. Meanwhile, 93.91 % of overall copper extraction efficiency was achieved through optimized leaching parameters and solvent extraction method.