Pretreatment of Copper Sulphide Ores Prior to Heap Leaching: A Review
Although the main cause of hydrometallurgical plant closures is the depletion of oxidized copper minerals reserves, the lack of new hydrometallurgy projects also contributes to these closures. One solution is to be able to process copper sulphide ores hydrometallurgically. However, it is widely know...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-07-01
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| Series: | Metals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/11/7/1067 |
| _version_ | 1827687373417218048 |
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| author | Andrés Neira Diana Pizarro Víctor Quezada Lilian Velásquez-Yévenes |
| author_facet | Andrés Neira Diana Pizarro Víctor Quezada Lilian Velásquez-Yévenes |
| author_sort | Andrés Neira |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Although the main cause of hydrometallurgical plant closures is the depletion of oxidized copper minerals reserves, the lack of new hydrometallurgy projects also contributes to these closures. One solution is to be able to process copper sulphide ores hydrometallurgically. However, it is widely known that sulphide copper ores—and chalcopyrite in particular—have very slow dissolution kinetics in traditional leaching systems. An alternative to improve the extraction of copper from sulphide ores is the use of a pretreatment process. Several investigations were developed evaluating the effects of pretreatment, mainly in the extraction of copper from chalcopyrite in chloride media. This study presents a review of various pretreatment methods prior to heap leaching to aid in the dissolution of copper from sulphide ores. Different variables of pretreatment that affect the extraction of copper were identified, including the type of salts used in agglomeration, curing time, and curing temperatures. Successful cases such as the implementation of the CuproChlor<sup>®</sup> process (use of calcium chloride), and various pilot studies using sodium chloride and temperature, show that pretreatment is an alternative that aids in the dissolution of copper from sulphide ores. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:32:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8799a5be1f3b4ee09a7944a3a74e3400 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4701 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:32:32Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Metals |
| spelling | doaj.art-8799a5be1f3b4ee09a7944a3a74e34002023-11-22T04:23:15ZengMDPI AGMetals2075-47012021-07-01117106710.3390/met11071067Pretreatment of Copper Sulphide Ores Prior to Heap Leaching: A ReviewAndrés Neira0Diana Pizarro1Víctor Quezada2Lilian Velásquez-Yévenes3Laboratorio de Investigación de Minerales Sulfurados, Departamento de Ingeniería Metalúrgica y Minas, Universidad Católica del Norte, Avenida Angamos 0610, 1270709 Antofagasta, ChileLaboratorio de Investigación de Minerales Sulfurados, Departamento de Ingeniería Metalúrgica y Minas, Universidad Católica del Norte, Avenida Angamos 0610, 1270709 Antofagasta, ChileLaboratorio de Investigación de Minerales Sulfurados, Departamento de Ingeniería Metalúrgica y Minas, Universidad Católica del Norte, Avenida Angamos 0610, 1270709 Antofagasta, ChileEscuela de Ingeniería Civil de Minas, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Talca, 3340000 Curicó, ChileAlthough the main cause of hydrometallurgical plant closures is the depletion of oxidized copper minerals reserves, the lack of new hydrometallurgy projects also contributes to these closures. One solution is to be able to process copper sulphide ores hydrometallurgically. However, it is widely known that sulphide copper ores—and chalcopyrite in particular—have very slow dissolution kinetics in traditional leaching systems. An alternative to improve the extraction of copper from sulphide ores is the use of a pretreatment process. Several investigations were developed evaluating the effects of pretreatment, mainly in the extraction of copper from chalcopyrite in chloride media. This study presents a review of various pretreatment methods prior to heap leaching to aid in the dissolution of copper from sulphide ores. Different variables of pretreatment that affect the extraction of copper were identified, including the type of salts used in agglomeration, curing time, and curing temperatures. Successful cases such as the implementation of the CuproChlor<sup>®</sup> process (use of calcium chloride), and various pilot studies using sodium chloride and temperature, show that pretreatment is an alternative that aids in the dissolution of copper from sulphide ores.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/11/7/1067copper sulphide oreagglomerationleachingcuringpretreatmentchloride |
| spellingShingle | Andrés Neira Diana Pizarro Víctor Quezada Lilian Velásquez-Yévenes Pretreatment of Copper Sulphide Ores Prior to Heap Leaching: A Review Metals copper sulphide ore agglomeration leaching curing pretreatment chloride |
| title | Pretreatment of Copper Sulphide Ores Prior to Heap Leaching: A Review |
| title_full | Pretreatment of Copper Sulphide Ores Prior to Heap Leaching: A Review |
| title_fullStr | Pretreatment of Copper Sulphide Ores Prior to Heap Leaching: A Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pretreatment of Copper Sulphide Ores Prior to Heap Leaching: A Review |
| title_short | Pretreatment of Copper Sulphide Ores Prior to Heap Leaching: A Review |
| title_sort | pretreatment of copper sulphide ores prior to heap leaching a review |
| topic | copper sulphide ore agglomeration leaching curing pretreatment chloride |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/11/7/1067 |
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