CHALCOPYRITE COPPER CONCENTRATE LEACHING ENHANCEMENT IN SULPHATE MEDIA BY PYRITE AS A CATALYST

摘要

Chalcopyrite, CuFeS_2, is one of the most economically important copper sulphide minerals. Hydrometallurgical processes for copper recovery from chalcopyrite can be categorized according to lixiaviant type, such as sulphate, chloride, ammonia and nitrate. Among these processes, it has been found that ferric sulphate leaching has several advantages. Most interests are for leaching of chalcopyrite in sulphate media at ambient pressure and low temperature. Problem in this condition is low copper recovery. Many investigators conclude that a passivation layer forms on the mineral surface. There are different options to enhance chalcopyrite leaching in sulphate media. In this research for enhancing the chalcopyrite leaching at ambient pressure, pyrite was used as a catalyst. In this research copper concentrate from Sarcheshmeh copper complex with dominate chalcopyrite mineral and chalcopyrite mineral with high purity from Mazrae copper mine were leached in the presence of pyrite. Effect of some parameters such as solution potential, temperature, the amount of catalyst(pyrite) location of samples and altitude were investigated. In the best condition the leaching of chalcopyrite with high purity and copper concentrate were 95% and 87% respectively.