Electrochemical processes in recovering metals from ores

Journal Article · Sun Apr 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · JOM (1989); (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03220927· OSTI ID:6712822

Felker, D L ^[1]; Bautista, R G ^[2]

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1. Hypalon Technical Polymer Product Dept., DuPont, Beaumont, TX (US)
2. Nevada Univ., Reno, NV (USA). Dept. of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering

Chalcopyrite (CuFeS{sub 2}) is one of the most abundant copper-bearing minerals in the U.S. Oxidative leaching and smelting and refining are the most common methods used for recovering copper from chalcopyrite. One of the problems associated with oxidative leaching is the formation of an elemental sulfur product layer around the unreacted chalcopyrite core. The sulfur coating slows the reaction by inhibiting both the diffusion of the oxidant to the unreacted core, and the diffusion of the copper and iron species to the bulk solution. Another problem with leaching is that the iron and copper are oxidized simultaneously. Both appear in the bulk solution in their most oxidized states. The direct electrodissolution of copper sulfide ore slurries could reduce the number of steps involved in the copper recovery process, possibly leading to significant reductions in energy consumption and operating costs. The potential application of electrodissolution processes in hydrometallurgy has been reviewed. This paper reviews investigations of the electrochemical dissolution of chalcopyrite, digenite (Cu{sub 1.8}S), chalcocite (Cu{sub 2}S) and covellite (CuS).

• OSTI ID: 6712822
• Journal Information: JOM (1989); (USA), Journal Name: JOM (1989); (USA) Vol. 42:4; ISSN JOMME
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360201* -- Ceramics
Cermets
& Refractories-- Preparation & Fabrication
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400201 -- Chemical & Physicochemical Properties
400400 -- Electrochemistry
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AIR POLLUTION
CHALCOGENIDES
CHALCOPYRITE
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
CHEMISTRY
COPPER
COPPER COMPOUNDS
COPPER ORES
COPPER SULFIDES
DISSOLUTION
ELECTROCHEMISTRY
ELEMENTS
IRON
IRON COMPOUNDS
IRON SULFIDES
KINETICS
LEACHING
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS RECOVERY
METALS
MINERALS
NATURAL OCCURRENCE
NORTH AMERICA
ORES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
PROCESSING
REACTION KINETICS
RECOVERY
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SMELTING
SULFIDE MINERALS
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
USA
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING