Abstract
The effect of NaCl on the leaching of white metal from a Teniente Converter was investigated in NaCl-H2SO4 media under environmental conditions. The copper dissolution from white metal was studied using ferric ions in the range of 1–10 g/L, NaCl in the range of 30–210 g/L, and sulfuric acid in the range of 10–50 g/L. The test without NaCl produced a dissolution of 55%; through the addition of NaCl, the dissolution increased to nearly 90%. The effect of sulfuric acid on the copper dissolution was not significant in the studied range, as the excess sulfuric acid simply increased the iron precipitation. The positive effect of NaCl seems to be related to the action of chloro-complex oxidizing agents in relation to the Cu+2/Cu+ couple. A simplified two-stage mechanism is proposed for the leaching of white metal. In the first stage, the white metal produces covellite and Cu2+, and in the second stage it produces elemental sulfur and Cu2+. The first stage is very rapidly compared to the second stage.
Highlights
In the pyrometallurgical processing of copper concentrates, iron is eliminated through the formation of two immiscible phases called slag and matte; the iron reports to the slag as oxide, and the copper remains in the matte as sulfide
This paper presents the experimental results of white metal leaching in NaCl-H2 SO4 media, because the hydrometallurgical processing of white metal may be an attractive alternative to pyrometallurgical processing, but most research efforts have used aggressive methods such as a high pressure and temperature with an oxidizing agent, as well as the use of chlorine gas
The results of white metal leaching in the NaCl-H2 SO4 system under environmental conditions indicate that white metal leaches in two stages
Summary
In the pyrometallurgical processing of copper concentrates, iron is eliminated through the formation of two immiscible phases called slag and matte; the iron reports to the slag as oxide, and the copper remains in the matte as sulfide. A Teniente Converter (TC) produces high-grade matte called “white metal” (74–76% Cu) that is further processed in a Peirce-Smith converter or similar furnace, to produce so-called blister copper (99% Cu) [1,2,3]. The hydrometallurgical treatment of copper matte is supported by a series of experimental tests carried out by different authors, who have achieved the total dissolution of copper under different operating conditions. In most cases, these conditions are chemically aggressive or very energetic, achieving the total dissolution in a few hours by agitation leaching, under a high pressure and high temperature [4,5,6]. Studies in copper matte leaching ( applicable to studies with chalcocite) are divided into two main areas: high temperature and pressure with an oxidizing agent, and the use of molecular chlorine [6,7,8]
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