A MINIMUM POLLUTION, LOW ENERGY PROCESS FOR THE RECOVERY OF COBALT AND COPPER FROM COMPLEX SULPHIDE MINERALS

摘要

The aim of our work is to investigate a low energy and clean route for the recovery of copper and cobalt from complex sulphide mineral concentrates. The mineral concentrates were roasted in air, in the presence of CaO (MS ＋ CaO ＋ 2O_2 = MO ＋ CaSO_4) at temperatures below 973K. The roasted products containing CuO, CoO and Fe_2O_3 were carbothermically reduced at 1073K within an hour to preferentially reduce copper and cobalt. The kinetics of reactions were studied using the thermogravimetric technique and by characterisation of reaction products using the XRDSEM-EDX techniques. The effects of MS:CaO ratio, roasting temperatures and physical nature of the mineral concentrates were analysed. The method for capturing SO_2 by forming CaSO_4 was analysed for reuse in the process. The energy balance for the above process is compared with that of conventional continuous smelting/converting process.