Abstract
The metallurgical behavior of fine fractions of copper sulfide minerals of Compania Minera Quebrada Blanca S.A. was studied by concentration through flotation in aqueous media modified by alcohol followed by bioleaching of the concentrates. By using a 1 % v/v of methanol, the metallurgical recovery of copper reaches 88 %, while the iron recovery was 43 %, the weight recovery was 18%, which indicates a high selectivity. These concentrates were then bioleached with and without nutrient medium, reaching 80 % of copper recovery after 10 and 17 days, respectively. Then, it is possible to conclude that this concentration-bioleaching metallurgical process is a promising route for copper recovery from the fine fraction of sulfide minerals.
Highlights
Metallurgical behavior of fine fractions of copper sulfide minerals in a combined process of modified flotation and agitated bioleaching
The metallurgical behavior of fine fractions of copper sulfide minerals of Compañía Minera Quebrada Blanca S.A. was studied by concentration through flotation in aqueous media modified by alcohol followed by bioleaching of the concentrates
It is possible to conclude that this concentration-bioleaching metallurgical process is a promising route for copper recovery from the fine fraction of sulfide minerals
Summary
La presencia significativa de fracciones finas de mineral sulfurado de cobre de baja ley, –100 # ASTM, genera importantes problemas operacionales que afectan los procesos de aglomeración y biolixiviación y, consecuentemente, la economía del proceso global[1]. La flotación debe cumplir los siguientes requisitos: operar a un pH lo menos básico posible, al objeto de reducir el consumo de ácido durante la biolixiviación; no hundir completamente los sulfuros de hierro; y no emplear cantidades significativas de reactivos orgánicos (colectores y espumantes) ya que son considerados tóxicos para las poblaciones bacterianas[18,19,20,21]. El objetivo de esta publicación es mostrar una nueva alternativa tecnológica que permite recuperar el cobre presente en las fracciones finas de minerales sulfurados de baja ley
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