Investigating of a Low-Grade Copper Concentrate Desilication by Alkali Pressure Leaching

摘要

Low grade copper concentrate, composed mainly of plagioclase, quartz, pyrite, chlorite, chalcopyrite, glauconite, is a promising source for the future recovery of copper and other valuable components, which processing by existing methods are not economical. An alkali pressure leaching method, followed by acid leaching for extraction of aluminum and silica from such low-grade copper concentrate with the aim to enrich other valuable metals content, was explored in this research. The samples were characterized by using wet chemical analysis and X-ray diffraction. An alkali pressure leaching, followed by dilute acid leaching for enrichment of low-grade copper concentrate, allows to extract in a solution of 90,4% Si, 83.82% Al and 7.73% of Cu with the following optimal parameters: NaOH/concentrate-1 mass ratio = 65%, alkali leaching temperature = 240 °C, the alkali leaching time = 90 min. The content of copper in the final concentrate was 19.17%. Consequently, the technology of processing of low-grade copper raw materials is proposed, that allows to increase the comprehensiveness of raw materials usage.