Electrochemical processing of oxidized copper ores

摘要

At present there is a strong demand in involving hard to be enriched oxidized ores with a low grade of valuable minerals into processing due to decreasing reserves of qualitative raw materials with a high content of useful components. The most rational solution of the problem of a similar raw material concentration is to elaborate fundamentally new, more efficient combined chemical-concentration flow sheets, combining traditional concentration technology with electro methods. The elaborated combined concentration technology of hard to be enriched oxidized copper ores calls for electrochemical processing of an ore pulp with the commercial frequency current followed by a foam flotation. The investigations of anode processing of oxidized copper ore for the purpose of sulphidizing of oxidized minerals have been carried out using low-grade ores of the Zhezkazgan deposit. Copper grade in the ore is 0.46%. Oxidation level is 89.0 %. The oxidized forms of copper are represented mainly by chrysocolla and malachite. The ore pulp was processed in the alkaline medium of the electrolyzer anode space at current density 0-150 A/m~2. The best parameters of the process have been determined. They provide the increase of copper recovery for 23-25% in comparison with a direct flotation. The semi-commercial tests have been carried out at the pilot-scale plant belonging to the scientific and production company Zhezkazgantsvetmet. The results obtained confirmed the effectiveness of electrochemical treatment while processing the given ore.