LEACHING OF A Cu-Co ORE FROM CONGO USING SULPHURIC ACID-HYDROGEN PEROXIDE LEACHANTS

  • Sang Yun Seo Chonnam National University, Department of Energy & Resources Engineering
  • Wan Seop Choi Chonnam National University, Department of Energy & Resources Engineering
  • Myong Jun Kim Chonnam National University, Department of Energy & Resources Engineering
  • Tam Tran Chonnam National University, Department of Energy & Resources Engineering

Abstract


A Cu-Co ore from Katinga Province, the Republic of Congo containing 1.5% Co and 1.6% Cu was tested to determine the leachability of Cu and Co using sulphuric acid and hydrogen peroxide mixtures at different conditions.  Without hydrogen peroxide, the maximum extraction of copper and cobalt were found to be ~80% and ~15%, respectively when the acid concentration was varied between 0.36 – 1.1M. When hydrogen peroxide was added (0.008-0.042M), Cu recovery was enhanced to ~90%. Recoveries of ~90% of Co could be achieved at 20oC, using leachants consisting of 0.36M sulphuric acid and 0.025M hydrogen peroxide after 3 hours. The reaction time to reach 90% Co extraction was reduced to less than 2 hours at 30oC. Stabcal modelling of the Eh-pH diagrams shows the importance of hydrogen peroxide as a reductant. The decrease of solution potential (300-350 mV) by adding hydrogen peroxide was confirmed by Eh measurements during the tests. The leaching follows the shrinking core model kinetics, where the rate constant is linearly dependent on hydrogen peroxide concentration in the range 0-0.025M and proportional to (1/r2) where r is the average radius of the mineral particles. The activation energy for the leaching process is 72.3 kJ/mol.

Author Biographies

Sang Yun Seo, Chonnam National University, Department of Energy & Resources Engineering
PhD student
Wan Seop Choi, Chonnam National University, Department of Energy & Resources Engineering
Masters student
Myong Jun Kim, Chonnam National University, Department of Energy & Resources Engineering
Professor, Chonnam National University, Department of Energy & Resources Engineering
Tam Tran, Chonnam National University, Department of Energy & Resources Engineering

Professor at Department of Energy & Resources Engineering, Chonnam Natiotnal University , Gwangju Korea (from 2009)

Ex-Professor in Minerals Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia (until 2009)

Published
2014/02/10
How to Cite
Seo, S. Y., Choi, W. S., Kim, M. J., & Tran, T. (2013). LEACHING OF A Cu-Co ORE FROM CONGO USING SULPHURIC ACID-HYDROGEN PEROXIDE LEACHANTS. Journal of Mining and Metallurgy, Section B: Metallurgy, 49(1), 1. Retrieved from https://aseestant.ceon.rs/index.php/jmm/article/view/1337
Issue
Vol. 49 No. 1 (2013)
Section
Original Scientific Paper

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