Acid bake-leach process for the treatment of enargite concentrates

作者：Safarzadeh M Sadegh; Moats Michael S; Miller Jan D^*

来源：Hydrometallurgy, 2012, 119: 30-39.

DOI：10.1016/j.hydromet.2012.03.002

• Enargite
• Sulfuric acid baking
• Water leaching
• Arsenic

As an alternative to roasting, low-temperature (100-200 degrees C) sulfuric acid baking of an enargite concentrate followed by water-leaching has been evaluated. Results indicate the thermal transformation of enargite and pyrite during sulfuric acid baking. By acid baking of an enargite concentrate at 200 degrees C for 7 h, similar to 90% Cu and similar to 61% As were released to the leach solution, with <1% of arsenic being released to the gas phase. The effects of time and temperature were studied on the baking reactions. Extended reaction times (24 h) at lower baking temperatures (170 degrees C) resulted in lower Cu and As extraction and higher As release to the gas phase (similar to 11%). The pH of the water leach solution was always similar to 0.8-2 after extraction due to residual acid, making it suitable for subsequent copper recovery. The oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) of the leach solution fell within the range 491-566 mV (vs. SHE) depending on the baking conditions. The ratio of ferric/ferrous ions in the leach solution showed considerable dependence to reaction time and temperature. Based on this study, some reactions are proposed for the sulfuric acid baking of enargite.

• 出版日期2012-5