Copper ore Leaching with alternative agents

Abstract

In copper processing, copper bearing sulfide minerals in porphyry deposit that can be efficiently processed by the froth-flotation cells then recovered by smelter. Copper mainly occurs in porphyry deposit with gold, silver and molybdenum. Most currently, research interest has moved to the processing low-grade, oxidized, complex ore bodies and flotation tail from copper processing that contains impurities including silica, iron, arsenic which forms the crud which negatively influence downstream processes like solvent extraction of hydrometallurgical plant. The conventional sulfuric acid for leaching low-grade copper oxidized ores is inefficient in the treatment of the proposed ore contains gangue metals and minerals like iron, silica, aluminum and carbonates results in increased reagent consumption and increased operating costs. In addition to these technical challenges, the use of sulfuric acid impacts on environment negatively including vaporization and contamination of ground water.