THIOSULFATE LEACHING OF SILVER FROM A SOLID RESIDUE AFTER PRESSURE LEACHING OF INDUSTRIAL COPPER SULFIDES FLOTATION CONCENTRATES

Abstract

Hydrometallurgical recovery of silver from a solid residue after pressure leaching of a flotation copper concentrate from the Lubin Concentrator (KGHM Polska Miedz S.A.) was investigated. Thiosulphate leaching was examined with regard to the highest possible leaching efficiency and optimization process parameters. The effect of thiosulfate ions concentration within the range from 0.25 to 1.00 mol/dm 3 at a constant ammonia concentration, and ammonia concentration within the range from 0.40 to 1.00 mol/dm 3 at a constant thiosulfate concentration on leaching recovery of selected metals were examined. Moreover, the effect of copper(II) ions addition on silver leaching was studied. It was shown that the leaching recovery of silver increased with increasing thiosulfate and ammonia concentration. At the highest thiosulfate ions concentration, the observed silver leaching recovery was 60%. The best results were obtained at an ammonia concentration of 0.80 mol/dm 3 , where the leaching recovery of Ag reached 75%. It was established that addition of Cu(II) did not affect silver leaching. Nearly 100% efficiency of thioslulohate silver leaching was achieved by pretreatment of the solid residue after pressure leaching with NaOH solutions.