Effect of Curing time on the dissolution of a secondary copper sulphide ore using alternative water resources

In the north of Chile, due to water shortages, the depletion of oxide ores and the abundance of chalcopyrite ore, mining industry is searching for sustainable hydrometallurgy processes that can use alternative water resources. The leaching process must enhance the dissolution of copper sulphide ore...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Quezada Reyes, Víctor Alejandro, Velásquez, Lilian, Roca, Antoni (Roca Vallmajor), Benavente, Oscar, Melo, Evelyn, Keith, Brian
Format: article
Status:Published version
Publication Date:2018
Country:España
Institution:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
Repository:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
OAI Identifier:oai:recercat.cat:2445/148800
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/148800
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Indústria del coure
Lixiviació
Metal·lúrgia extractiva
Copper industry and trade
Leaching
Metallurgic chemistry
Description
Summary:In the north of Chile, due to water shortages, the depletion of oxide ores and the abundance of chalcopyrite ore, mining industry is searching for sustainable hydrometallurgy processes that can use alternative water resources. The leaching process must enhance the dissolution of copper sulphide ore that are refractory to conventional leaching. This paper reports a study on the effect of addition of chloride ion using seawater and discard brine in the agglomeration stage of a secondary copper sulphide ore. The effect of curing time on the same ore also is reported. The leaching tests have been carried out in column irrigated with raffinate under ambient conditions. A size distribution with a P80 of 17 mm is used. A maximum of 72% of copper extraction is obtained using discard brine and 68% using seawater. The use of discard brine and seawater are favorable in all the tests performed. Through an Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), it is determined that the curing time has the highest contribution (92.37%) on the percentage of copper extraction.