EP0756515A1 - Procede de lixiviation en presence d'abrasifs - Google Patents

Procede de lixiviation en presence d'abrasifs

Info

Publication number
EP0756515A1
EP0756515A1 EP94916539A EP94916539A EP0756515A1 EP 0756515 A1 EP0756515 A1 EP 0756515A1 EP 94916539 A EP94916539 A EP 94916539A EP 94916539 A EP94916539 A EP 94916539A EP 0756515 A1 EP0756515 A1 EP 0756515A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
copper
contacting
solids
lixiviant
solid particles
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP94916539A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0756515A4 (fr
Inventor
Thomas B. Buza
Heinrich Kling
Rick James Neylon
Joseph P. Wilson
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Tessenderlo Kerley Inc
Original Assignee
HICKSON KERLEY Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by HICKSON KERLEY Inc filed Critical HICKSON KERLEY Inc
Priority claimed from PCT/US1994/004257 external-priority patent/WO1995028223A1/fr
Publication of EP0756515A1 publication Critical patent/EP0756515A1/fr
Publication of EP0756515A4 publication Critical patent/EP0756515A4/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a process for leaching copper and/or nickel from sources containing copper and/or nickel.
  • Exemplary sources include concentrates, ores, slag, and flue dust.
  • Copper and/or nickel can be involved in lixiviation either as the direct products of the process or indirectly as materials to be removed from a desired product.
  • chalcopyrite and other copper sources are leached from copper ores to recover copper, but can also be involved as contaminants such as those found in molybdenum concentrates which reduce the value of those concentrates. Removing some or all of the copper from a molybdenum concentrate significantly increases the value of the resulting concentrate.
  • the Arbiter process is described in The February 1974 issue of The Canadian Mining and Metallurgical Bulletin, pp. 62-73. Briefly described, the process contacts typical copper sulfide concentrate particles having a size of 70% -325 mesh (i.e., 70 wt% of less than 44 ⁇ m particle size diameter) with a lixiviation (leaching) solution containing ammonia and ammonium sulfate at 60° -90° C. Commercial oxygen is fed into the system at 5 psig. The lixiviation is performed in an apparatus that was essentially an enclosed flotation cell.
  • Probert et al. US Patent No. 3,911,076 describes a process for purifying molybdenum concentrates by contacting the concentrate with a solution containing ammonia and an ammonium salt (e.g., sulfate, carbonate, nitrate, chloride, or acetate).
  • an ammonium salt e.g., sulfate, carbonate, nitrate, chloride, or acetate.
  • Oxides of cobalt, zinc, nickel, and copper are removed by the process.
  • copper sulfides or native copper can be removed by contacting the solids in suspension with an oxygen-containing gas. The oxidized form is then removed in the leach solution.
  • Kunda US Patent No. 3,985,553 describes a process for recovering copper from -100 mesh (less than 149 microns) copper sulfide particles by leaching them with ammonia and ammonium carbonate.
  • the residue is separated and milled to scrub the external surface of the solids.
  • the scrubbed residue is then re-leached in a second stage with fresh ammonia-ammonium carbonate solution.
  • the solution is oxidized and copper values are recovered by passing a reducing gas through the combined extracts to precipitate elemental copper.
  • Ammonium sulfate free of sulfamatic contamination can also be produced under certain conditions.
  • Kerley, Jr. US Patent No. 4,369,061 describes a lixiviation process for recovering silver and gold from manganese ores with a solution containing 2-60% ammonium thiosulfate, 0.05-0.1 % copper, and 0.05-4% sulfite.
  • the copper can be supplied from the ore being treated or as a copper salt.
  • the sulfite ions are used to inhibit the thiosulfate decomposition and prevent silver sulfide precipitation.
  • Ammonium sulfite and bisulfite as well as "other sulfite salts" may be used to supply the sulfite ions.
  • Horton et al. describes oxidative leaching of uranium ore with either acidic or alkaline solutions in which the ore is separated into fines, i.e., a "slime" of -200 mesh (74 ⁇ m) generally and 91 % -400 mesh (37 ⁇ m) in the example, and coarse fractions (-14 X
  • a process according to the invention comprises: extracting copper or nickel values from feed solids containing copper and/or nickel having at least 80 weight % thereof exhibiting an average particle size of less than about 75 microns by contacting said source under agitation and leaching conditions sufficient to recover copper and/or nickel from said feed by contact with: (a) a lixiviant comprising a mixture of ammonia and ammonium bisulfite, and (b) abrasive solid particles exhibiting at least 10 weight % of the solids exhibiting a particle size of greater than about 300 microns, under agitation and leaching conditions sufficient to suspend substantially all of said abrasive solid particles in scrubbing contact with said feed solids to continually expose new surfaces for contact with said lixiviant.
  • the present invention provides a process for recovering copper and/or nickel values from copper and/or nickel-containing sources that exhibits a high recovery and process conditions that are readily performed on a commercial scale.
  • the invention relates to leaching of copper and/or nickel values from solid copper and/or nickel sources in the presence of relatively larger abrasive solid particles and a lixiviant containing ammonia and ammonium bisulfite.
  • Solid copper sources that can be used as feed for the present process include copper or other metal concentrates, ores, slags, and flue dusts.
  • Preferred copper sources for the present invention includes copper sulfide containing ores and concentrates such as those containing chalcopyrite in an amount within the range from about 0.01 wt% to about 100 wt%.
  • molybdenite concentrates generally contain from about 1 wt% to about 5 wt% copper, a significant amount of which is in the form of chalcopyrite, which lowers the value of the concentrate.
  • Solid nickel sources that can be used as feed for the present invention may be admixed with copper or copper-free.
  • Exemplary minerals used as feed for the recovery of nickel according to the invention include pentlandite, garnierite, noumeite, millerite and other nickel sulfide materials, and niccolite.
  • the solids used as feed to the present process preferably exhibit a fairly small particle size to present sufficient surface area for contact with the lixiviant.
  • the copper-containing feed solids will be comminuted in a preliminary step to an average particle size of generally at least 50 wt% is less than about 74 ⁇ m (200 mesh), preferably at least 80 wt% is less than about 74 ⁇ m, and most preferably at least about 70 wt% is less than 44 microns (325 mesh).
  • the abrasive solids useful in the present process are relatively larger and chemically distinct from the solid feed particles.
  • suitable abrasives exhibit an average particle size of greater than about 300 ⁇ m, preferably an average particle size within the range of about 300 ⁇ m to about 800 ⁇ m, and most preferably an average particle size within the range from about 400 ⁇ m to about 600 ⁇ m.
  • the abrasive solids are preferably chemically inert towards the lixiviant as well as the leached species and should also exhibit a density, hardness, or other characteristic that permits separation thereof from the lixiviant.
  • Suitable abrasives for the present invention include, inter alia, silica sand, quartz, magnetite, carborundum, and slag.
  • abrasive solids are used in a weight ratio of feed solids to abrasive solids within the range of 2:1 to about 9: 1.
  • the weight ratio of lixiviant to abrasive solids is within the range from about 2:1 to about 5:1.
  • the lixiviant for the present invention is a mixture of ammonia (NH 3 ) and ammonium bisulfite (NH 4 HSO 3 ).
  • the ammonium bisulfite can be added as a discrete component or formed in situ by passing sulfur dioxide thru the ammonia.
  • This mixture in the presence of dissolved copper and an oxidant (e.g., air or oxygen), dissolves copper and nickel from many feeds, even those with copper and nickel in otherwise leach resistant forms like chalcopyrite.
  • the weight ratio of ammonia to ammonium bisulfite in the lixiviant is generally within the range from about 0.3 to about 0.8. This ratio does not change with the specific feed, but the total concentration of ammonia and ammonium bisulfite in the lixiviation solution is adjusted in proportion to the copper and nickel concentrations in the feed.
  • the leaching process is preferably performed in a closed vessel at a pressure within the range from about ambient pressure to about 5 atmospheres.
  • the leaching process is performed at a pressure within the range from ambient to no more than about 3 atmospheres to avoid the need for costly pressure extraction vessels and the operating concerns associated therewith.
  • a closed vessel eliminates loss of lixiviant during the process.
  • the leaching process is generally performed at a temperature within the range from about 18° C (68° F) to less than about 300° C (572 °F). Preferably, the leaching process is performed at a temperature within the range from about 18° C to about 150° C (302° F).
  • a combination of elevated heat and pressure could be used to increase the rate of copper dissolution and associated reactions if the capital and other expenses are economically warranted.
  • the leaching process is performed with an agitation rate sufficient to suspend substantially, preferably 100%, of the abrasive solids in the lixiviant solution thereby causing the abrasive solids to scrub the surface of the feed solids and continually expose fresh mineral surface for leaching.
  • an agitation rate sufficient to suspend substantially, preferably 100%, of the abrasive solids in the lixiviant solution thereby causing the abrasive solids to scrub the surface of the feed solids and continually expose fresh mineral surface for leaching.
  • Buildup of surface coatings on the feed solids that might inhibit leaching is effectively minimized thus resulting in faster kinetics and good overall extraction at a lower agitation rate.
  • leaching with agitated abrasives according to the present invention will extract copper and/or nickel values in a shorter extraction time than without the added abrasive solids and with a lower rate of agitation.
  • Impeller rotation rates within about 450-1250 rpm were satisfactory for the leaching apparatus used in the following examples. Because the preferred agitation method in commercial operation is with an impeller suspended in the leach solution, the savings in time and power required for high rates of agitation provide for an economical, commercially viable process.
  • Example 1 was performed without silica sand as the abrasive.
  • Example 2 was performed with a 1:1 weight ratio of concentrate solids to silica sand abrasive (500 ⁇ m average particle size). An agitation rate sufficient to suspend all of the silica sand was used in both examples.
  • example 1 63.8% of the copper was leached.
  • example 2 the use of sand abrasive increased the copper extraction to 75.3% under otherwise identical leaching conditions.
  • a 27% copper concentrate according to the invention (68 wt% less than 53 ⁇ m) containing about 76% in the form of chalcopyrite was leached with the lixiviant of example 1.
  • the process of example 3 was performed with silica sand (having an average particle size of about 500 ⁇ m).
  • Example 4 was identical except that silica sand was not added.
  • the agitation rate was the same for each example and was sufficient to suspend all of the silica sand used in example 3.
  • the temperature and pressure were ambient.
  • Examples 5-7 compare the effectiveness of lixiviant solutions when the temperature and pressure are at ambient conditions. Silica sand abrasive having the size of examples 2 and 3 were used in each example with all examples subjected to the same agitation rate during the leaching.
  • a copper concentrate was leached for 2 hours with a lixiviant contaimng an ammoma: ABS ratio of 0.8: 1. In 2 hours, the extraction was 49.2%. Extending the extraction time to 7 hours increased the extraction to 93 % .
  • a sample of the same concentrate used in example 5 was leached with a lixiviant made from ammonia and ammonium sulfate (AS) in a ratio of ammonia: AS of 0.8: 1. The sample was leached for 4 hours and extracted 43.1 % of the copper.
  • AS ammonium sulfate
  • Molybdenum concentrate sized according to the invention and having 3.3% copper, was leached for seven hours with the lixiviant of example 1 in an agitated, closed leaching vessel containing silica sand particles of about 500 ⁇ m diameter. Of the copper in the concentrate, 96.4% was removed leaving a molybdenum concentrate with 0.14 wt% copper.
  • Examples 9 and 10 were extractions of the copper concentrate used in examples 3-7 using the ammonia/ABS lixiviant of example 1 both with (ex. 9) and without (ex. 10) abrasive silica sand having an average particle size of 500 ⁇ m.
  • the agitation rate for each example was the same.
  • the copper extraction between each hour was determined by conventional assay on a small sample of the feed solids. The results are reported in Table 2.

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  • Manufacture And Refinement Of Metals (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention se rapporte à un procédé de lixiviation du cuivre et/ou du nickel à partir de sources solides utilisées comme charges au moyen d'un agent de lixiviation contenant du gaz ammoniac et du bisulfure d'ammonium. Ce procédé s'effectue par brassage en présence de solides abrasifs relativement gros et d'un agent d'oxydation, de préférence l'air ou l'oxygène. Les solides abrasifs nettoient la surface d'une charge de solides et facilitent l'exposition constante des nouvelles surfaces en vue d'obtenir une meilleure cinétique de lixiviation et des taux d'extraction maximaux. Le procédé s'applique notamment à des solides contenant des sulfures de cuivre.
EP94916539A 1994-04-19 1994-04-19 Procede de lixiviation en presence d'abrasifs Withdrawn EP0756515A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US1994/004257 WO1995028223A1 (fr) 1994-04-19 1994-04-19 Procede de lixiviation en presence d'abrasifs
BR9408572A BR9408572A (pt) 1994-04-19 1994-04-19 Processo para a lixiviação de sólidos contendo cobre e/ou niquel processo para a liviação de sólidos contendo cobre e processo para a lixiviação de sólidos contendo niquel

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0756515A1 true EP0756515A1 (fr) 1997-02-05
EP0756515A4 EP0756515A4 (fr) 1997-03-19

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP94916539A Withdrawn EP0756515A1 (fr) 1994-04-19 1994-04-19 Procede de lixiviation en presence d'abrasifs

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0756515A1 (fr)
BR (1) BR9408572A (fr)

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3911076A (en) * 1973-12-28 1975-10-07 Kennecott Copper Corp Process for purifying molybdenite concentrates

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3911076A (en) * 1973-12-28 1975-10-07 Kennecott Copper Corp Process for purifying molybdenite concentrates

Non-Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
METALLURGICAL REVIEW OF MMIJ, vol. 9, no. 1, July 1992, TOKYO, JP, pages 64-74, XP000613777 ROKUKAWA NAGANORI: "Extraction of nickel, cobalt and copper from ocean cobalt crust with ammoniacal alkaline solution" *
See also references of WO9528223A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BR9408572A (pt) 1997-08-26
EP0756515A4 (fr) 1997-03-19

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