The feasibility of hydrometallurgical methods for enhancing the processing of copper concentrates

Abstract

This article analyses available methods for processing low-grade copper concentrates, including existing hydrometallurgical schemes of their conditioning. To this end, we review Russian and foreign publications investigating existing technologies for processing substandard copper raw materials, which are used to deepen the extraction of valuable components from raw materials. Particular attention is paid to the technologies of hydrometallurgical processing of raw materials in terms of their feasibility for conditioning low-grade copper-containing materials as a substitution for conventional processing methods. The most promising technologies in terms of their further development and industrial application were identified among autoclave (MT Gordon, Platsol, CESL, hydrothermal treatment, etc.) and atmospheric leaching (HydroCopper, Intec Copper Process, Albion, etc.) methods. A number of research gaps in the field of copper raw and copper alloy processing were revealed, including problems related to conditioning of low-grade raw materials. Copper ores contain a significant amount of zinc and copper sulphides, whose complete extraction can be achieved using modern hydrometallurgical methods thus contributing to the efficiency of raw materials processing. In this respect, the Albion process seems to be a highly promising solution, thus requiring further studies.