Simultaneous leaching of a deep-sea manganese nodule and chalcopyrite in hydrochloric acid

Abstract

Hydrochloric acid leaching of chalcopyrite and a manganese nodule, in combination, was studied using powder samples. Chalcopyrite, which does not dissolve well in HCl, was effectively leached in the presence of a manganese nodule at 3 to 4 M HCl. The rates of dissolution of metal values from the nodule were also enhanced in the presence of chalcopyrite. Dissolution was found to occur through three routes: (1) the galvanic interaction between CuFeS 2 and MnO 2 , (2) the action of the Fe 3+ /Fe 2+ redox couple, and (3) the action of Cl 2 gas generated from the MnO 2 -HCl reaction on CuFeS 2 . The last route appeared to make the major contribution to the dissolution. The combined leaching of a nodule and chalcopyrite appears to be promising from both technical and economic points of view.

Kinetics of Chalcopyrite Leaching by Hydrogen Peroxide in Sulfuric Acid

“…Therefore, it is convenient to treat these ores using some of the hydrometallurgical processes. Leaching of copper from chalcopyrite requires the presence of the oxidants in an acidic environment; some of the frequently present oxidants are: the ferric ions [3][4][5][6][7][8][9], the cupric ions [10][11][12], some acidophilic bacteria [13][14][15][16][17][18], the nitrate ions [19,20], the nitrite ions [21,22], the dichromate ions [23,24], the manganese ions [25,26], the permanganate ions [27], the chlorate ions [28], the oxygen ions [29][30][31][32][33][34], ozone [35], the silver ions [36,37], and the use of microwaves [38,39].…”

“…Influences of the temperature and leaching time on a copper extraction yields from chalcopyrite concentrate was measured at temperatures25,30,35,40, and 45 • C and leaching time from 0 to 240 min. The grain size was 100% −37 µm, the stirring speed was 100 rpm, and the were of H 2 SO 4 and H 2 O 2 1.5 M, and 1 M, respectively.…”

Leaching Chalcopyrite with High MnO2 and Chloride Concentrations

“…There have been few studies on acid leaching of chalcopyrite using marine nodules (MnO 2 ) as an oxidizing agent [26][27][28][29]. These studies showed that good copper dissolution rates of chalcopyrite can be obtained at room temperature, provided that the MnO 2 /CuFeS 2 rate is high.…”

“…These studies showed that good copper dissolution rates of chalcopyrite can be obtained at room temperature, provided that the MnO 2 /CuFeS 2 rate is high. Devi et al [26,27] indicated that this is due to the galvanic interaction between chalcopyrite and MnO 2 , the action of Fe 3+ /Fe 2+ ratio, and the formation of chlorine gas through the reaction between MnO 2 and HCl. Havlik et al [28] showed that 4 mol/L of HCl and a 4/1 de MnO 2 /CuFeS 2 ratio is optimal conditions to obtain good results at ambient temperature (54% of copper in 90 min).…”

“…There are few studies for the dissolution of chalcopyrite incorporating MnO 2 and chloride in the system [26][27][28][29], achieving positive results in the extraction of Cu at room temperature, mainly evaluating the concentration of MnO 2 in the system. Previously, Toro et al [29] conducted an investigation in which they evaluated the use of wastewater with high chloride, seawater and manganese nodules contents, for the dissolution of chalcopyrite in an acidic medium.…”