Investigating the effect of Cu, Fe, Si and Ca in copper sulfide concentrate on the tank-bioleaching process: A case study

Abstract

Copper extraction by biohydrometallurgy is a modern method that has recently been introduced from the laboratory scale to the industrial scale. The presence of different elements and compounds in the feed to the processing plant may cause important changes in the copper cathode production line. In this case study, the effect of compounds in two types of chalcocite and chalcopyrite concentrates on the efficiency of copper cathode production was investigated. The experimental findings have demonstrated that the consumption of sulfuric acid for the dissolution of chalcocite concentrate is 29% higher than that of chalcopyrite concentrate. This variation can be attributed to the existence of a greater amount of calcium in the chalcocite concentrate. The results of the design expert showed that if >90% copper recovery is required, in the presence of high amounts of SiO2, the iron content of the concentrate should be <10%; in the presence of small amounts of SiO2, the iron content of the concentrate should be <22%. If >90% copper recovery is required, the iron content of the concentrate should be <20% (for low amounts of CaO) or <12% (for high amount of CaO).