The use of copper slag as a partial substitute for cement in mortar preparation was studied. Copper slag samples were collected from three dumps in the Atacama Region (Northern Chile). Mortars of 40x40x160 mm (width, height, length) and curing times of 7, 28 and 90 days were used in mechanical testing. Tests were performed with 0% (control mortar), 5, 10, 15 and 20% copper slag as partial replacement of cement. The results of mechanical tests showed a gradual increase in compressive and flexural strength at 7, 28 and 90 days in mortars containing copper slag when compared with the control mortar. The major differences between the control and copper slag mortars are evident after 7 days, which indicates that the presence of slag in the blends has a retardant effect on the hardening process. On the other hand, at 90 days, compressive and flexural strength was very similar for both control mortar and mortars containing copper slag. Optimal compressive and flexural strength values are achieved with 5% of cement substitution by copper slag. The study concludes that the use of copper slag in mortars presents a viable alternative for partial cement replacement, and also contributes to mitigate adverse environmental effects of copper mining.
Copper slag flotation was studied on an industrial scale at a concentrator plant in the region of Atacama, Chile. This study consisted of the physical, chemical, and mineralogical characterization of the copper slag, along with preliminary flotation tests. This article focuses on industrial flotation, which consisted of two oneyear campaigns (2016 and 2017). The first campaign was carried out using an existing copper slag flotation circuit in the plant. During the second campaign (2017), a circuit for sulfide ore flotation with an additional columnar flotation cleaning stage was evaluated. Results showed an improvement in metallurgical parameters on the second campaign (including improvements in processing capacity, concentrate copper grade, and metallurgical recovery). From the industrial copper slag flotation campaigns, it was concluded that it is possible to obtain a commercialquality copper concentrate, suitable for further processing in a copper smelter. This mitigates certain environmental impacts of copper processing.
The use of copper slag (CS) as fine aggregate and partial substitute of cement for mortar preparation was studied. Results showed an increase on compressive and flexural strength at 3, 7 and 28 days using CS as fine aggregate. As partial replacement of cement, a gradual improvement on compressive and flexural strength at 7, 28 and 90 days was noticed. At 7 and 28 days, the control mortar (CM) shows higher compressive strength and flexural strength. Nevertheless, at 90 days, the CM and mortars prepared with CS showed similar compression and flexural strength. The use of CS in the construction industry is hence presented as an auspicious alternative for improving the quality of mortars and mitigating the environmental impacts of slag deposits, adding extra value on this metallurgical waste and reducing the shortage of aggregates of northern Chile.
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