The role of sodium chloride on surface properties of chalcopyrite leached with ferric sulphate.

Leaching of chalcopyrite in oxidizing conditions usually results in low copper extraction due to mineral passivation. It has been proposed that sodium chloride has a positive effect on chalcopyrite dissolution increasing copper extraction. Aiming to bring further insight into this topic, the present...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Carneiro, Maria Fernanda Coimbra, Leão, Versiane Albis
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2007
País:Brasil
Institución:Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP)
Repositorio:Repositório Institucional da UFOP
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:repositorio.ufop.br:123456789/5513
Acceso en línea:http://www.repositorio.ufop.br/handle/123456789/5513
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2007.01.005
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Chalcopyrite
Leaching
Sodium chloride
Surface area
Porosity
Descripción
Sumario:Leaching of chalcopyrite in oxidizing conditions usually results in low copper extraction due to mineral passivation. It has been proposed that sodium chloride has a positive effect on chalcopyrite dissolution increasing copper extraction. Aiming to bring further insight into this topic, the present work seeks to evaluate the influence of sodium chloride on the leaching of chalcopyrite focusing on surface area and porosity of the reaction products formed during leaching. A finely ground (d50=5.5 μm) chalcopyrite concentrate assaying 25.2% iron, 30.9% sulphur and 27.5% copper was leached in oxygenated ferric sulphate solutions at atmospheric pressure and 95 °C. It has been observed that although sodium chloride favoured natrojarosite precipitation, which reduced the total iron concentration during leaching, copper extractions as high as 91% were accomplished as compared to 45% copper extraction in the absence of NaCl. It is suggested that sodium chloride reduces chalcopyrite passivation and complexes Cu (I) ions adding a second redox couple to the system. Furthermore, morphologic characterization of the reaction products performed by SEM analyses as well as specific surface area and porosity measurements have confirmed that NaCl increases surface area and porosity of the product layer, which explains the high copper extractions observed in the presence of the salt.