Leaching of a pyrite-based ore containing copper using sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide

The oxidation of sulfide-based ores is industrially relevant as it facilitates the extraction of valuable metals and eliminates undesired elements from an ore. Even though oxidation can be done thermally (pyrometallurgy), solution-based (hydrometallurgical) methods are currently sought as they repre...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of industrial chemistry 2020-09, Vol.11 (3), p.195-201
Main Authors: Salas-Martell, Daniel, Pareja-Guzman, Giuliana, Tello-Hijar, Jimena, Rodriguez-Reyes, Juan Carlos F.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Atomic absorption analysis
Atomic properties
Chemistry
Chemistry and Materials Science
Copper
Copper ores
Decomposition reactions
Dissolution
Environmental Chemistry
Exothermic reactions
Hydrogen peroxide
Hydrometallurgy
Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering
Iron
Leaching
Minerals
Nanochemistry
Oxidation
Oxidizing agents
Polymer Sciences
Pyrite
Pyrometallurgy
Short Communication
Slurries
Stoichiometry
Sulfuric acid
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The oxidation of sulfide-based ores is industrially relevant as it facilitates the extraction of valuable metals and eliminates undesired elements from an ore. Even though oxidation can be done thermally (pyrometallurgy), solution-based (hydrometallurgical) methods are currently sought as they represent a more sustainable option. Here, the leaching of a sulfide ore (32% Fe, 2% Cu) is investigated using a mixture of sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide (0.15 M H 2 SO 4 and 0.5 M H 2 O 2 ), in proportions forming a slurry 10% w/w. The leaching process is found to occur in two stages, the first corresponding to an exothermic, peroxide-mediated dissolution, and the second corresponding to an acid-mediated reaction, which appears to be thermoneutral. Control experiments performed with only peroxide confirm that this oxidant is involved in the first stage of the dissolution process. The leaching process leads to copper and iron dissolution (15% and 5%, respectively), as determined using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The mass of pyrite dissolved is estimated from AAS measurements and, from the stoichiometry of the peroxide-mediated dissolution reaction, it is found that ~ 80% of the peroxide participates in the dissolution, with the other 20% being decomposed, in a reaction catalyzed by ferric (Fe +3 ) ions produced during the first stage of the dissolution.
ISSN:2228-5970
2228-5547
DOI:10.1007/s40090-020-00212-2