Recovery of Copper from Concentrated Seruwila Copper Magnetite Ore from Chloride Electrolyte in the Presence of Hydrochloric Acid

Abstract

Extraction of copper from concentrated Seruwila Copper-Magnetite from chloride solution in the presence of Hydrochloric acid using Lead anode and Copper cathode was investigated. Surface and borehole samples were collected in Arippu area of the deposit. Average copper concentration of the surface samples was 0.14% and subsurface borehole samples was 1.12%. Crushed borehole samples passed through the 75micron solid particles mixed with 25mg/kg of Pine oil and 250mg/kg of Xanthate and preparation of 10% solid slurry for froth floatation. Accordingly, 9.2 g of copper concentrate was recovered from froth floatation of 1.0kg of Copper magnetite ore. Weighed quantity of dried copper concentrate was dissolved in concentrated Sulfuric, Hydrochloric and Nitric acids separately. However, optimum dissolution was recorded when using concentrated Hydrochloric acid. The effect of the operating variables on current density upon copper concentration, applied potential, electrode spacing, area of electrodes, pH, temperature and stirring velocity were studied. The optimum variables discovered for effective electrowinning were 20g/l, 4.6V, 2cm, 30cm2, 4.2, 55-60 °C and 300rpm respectively. Overall copper recovery was reached to 82.14% from ROM samples and average power consumption and efficiency for copper extraction by electrowinning process was 6.78 kwh/kg and 72.23% respectively.