Abstract
Most copper minerals are found as sulfides, with chalcopyrite being the most abundant. However; this ore is refractory to conventional hydrometallurgical methods, so it has been historically exploited through froth flotation, followed by smelting operations. This implies that the processing involves polluting activities, either by the formation of tailings dams and the emission of large amounts of SO2 into the atmosphere. Given the increasing environmental restrictions, it is necessary to consider new processing strategies, which are compatible with the environment, and, if feasible, combine the reuse of industrial waste. In the present research, the dissolution of pure chalcopyrite was studied considering the use of MnO2 and wastewater with a high chloride content. Fine particles (−20 µm) generated an increase in extraction of copper from the mineral. Besides, it was discovered that working at high temperatures (80 °C); the large concentrations of MnO2 become irrelevant. The biggest copper extractions of this work (71%) were achieved when operating at 80 °C; particle size of −47 + 38 µm, MnO2/CuFeS2 ratio of 5/1, and 1 mol/L of H2SO4.
Highlights
The most abundant type of copper mineral is chalcopyrite [1,2,3,4,5]
We evaluated the use of wastewater with high chloride content, and MnO2 present in manganese nodules as an oxidizing agent in leaching chalcopyrite
It can be observed that no differences in copper dissolution rates can be obtained at particle size of −75 + 53 to −47 + 38 μm differences in copper dissolution rates can be obtained at particle size of −75 + 53 to −47 + 38 μm (Figure 2a,b)
Summary
Chalcopyrite has traditionally been treated by conventional pyrometallurgical techniques [6], which consist of flotation, smelting and refining, and electrorefining [7]. These techniques yield approximately 19 million tonnes per annum [8]. The slow copper extraction rate of conventional leaching from chalcopyrite in sulfur media makes commercial scale leaching economically unfeasible [12]. This may be due to the formation of a passive layer that forms on the surface of the mineral [13,14,15].
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