Comparison of Microwave-Assisted and Conventional Leaching for Extraction of Copper from Chalcopyrite Concentrate
Chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) is the most common primary
mineral used for the commercial production of copper. The low
dissolution efficiency of chalcopyrite in sulfate media has prevented
an efficient industrial leaching of this mineral in sulfate media. Ferric
ions, bacteria, oxygen and other oxidants have been used as oxidizing
agents in the leaching of chalcopyrite in sulfate and chloride media
under atmospheric or pressure leaching conditions. Two leaching
methods were studied to evaluate chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) dissolution
in acid media. First, the conventional oxidative acid leaching method
was carried out using sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and potassium
dichromate (K2Cr2O7) as oxidant at atmospheric pressure. Second,
microwave-assisted acid leaching was performed using the
microwave accelerated reaction system (MARS) for same reaction
media. Parameters affecting the copper extraction such as leaching
time, leaching temperature, concentration of H2SO4 and
concentration of K2Cr2O7 were investigated. The results of
conventional acid leaching experiments were compared to the
microwave leaching method. It was found that the copper extraction
obtained under high temperature and high concentrations of oxidant
with microwave leaching is higher than those obtained
conventionally. 81% copper extraction was obtained by the
conventional oxidative acid leaching method in 180 min, with the
concentration of 0.3 mol/L K2Cr2O7 in 0.5M H2SO4 at 50 ºC, while
93.5% copper extraction was obtained in 60 min with microwave
leaching method under same conditions.
[1] S. Wang, “Copper Leaching from Chalcopyrite Concentrates.” JOM,
Vol. 7, 2005, pp 48-51.
[2] C. K. Gupta, T. K. Mukherjee, “Hydrometallurgy in Extraction
Processes,” CRC Press. Vol. 1, 1964.
[3] H. R. Watling, “Chalcopyrite Hydrometallurgy at Atmospheric Pressure:
1. Review of Acidic Sulfate, Sulfate–Chloride and Sulfate–Nitrate
Process Options,” Hydrometallurgy, vol. 140, 2013, pp 163-180.
[4] D. Dreisinger, “Copper Leaching from Primary Sulfides: Options for
Biological and Chemical Extraction of Copper,” Hydrometallurgy, Vol.
83, 2006, pp 10-20.
[5] C. Klauber, “A Critical Review of the Surface Chemistry of Acidic
Ferric Sulphate Dissolution of Chalcopyrite with Regards to Hindered
Dissolution,” International Journal of Mineral Processing, Vol. 86,
2008, pp 1-17.
[6] E. M. Córdoba, J. A. Muñoz, M. L. Blázquez, F. González, A. Ballester,
“Leaching of Chalcopyrite with Ferric Ion. Part I: General Aspects, ”
Hydrometallurgy, vol 93,2008, pp 81-87.
[7] S. Aydogan, G. Ucar, M. Canbazoglu, “Dissolution Kinetics of
Chalcopyrite in Acidic Potassium Dichromate Solution”
Hydrometallurgy, vol 81, 2006, pp 45-51.
[8] K. Onol, M.N Saridede, “Investigation on Microwave Heating for Direct
Leaching of Chalcopyrite Ores and Concentrates,” International Journal
of Mineral Metallurgy and Material, Vol. 20, 2013, pp 228-233.
[9] X. Zhai, Q. Wu, Y. Fu, L. Ma, C. Fan, N. Li, “Leaching of Nickel
Laterite Ore Assisted by Microwave Technique” Transactions of
Nonferrous Metals Society of China, Vol. 20, 2010, pp. 77-81.
[10] T. Suoranta, O. Zugazua, M. Niemelä, P. Perämäki, “Recovery of
Palladium, Platinum, Rhodium and Ruthenium from Catalyst Materials
Using Microwave-Assisted Leaching and Cloud Point Extraction,”
Hydrometallurgy, Vol. 154, 2015, pp. 56-62.
[11] G. Chen, J. Chen, J. Peng, R. Wang, “Green Evaluation of Microwave-
Assisted Leaching Process of High Titanium Slag on Life Cycle
Assessment”, Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China, Vol.
20, 2010, pp. 198-204.
[12] D.A. Jones, T.P. Lelyveld, S.D. Mavrofidis, S.W. Kingman, , N.J. Miles,
“Microwave Heating Applications in Environmental Engineering-A
Review”, Resources, Conservation and Recycling, Vol. 34, 2002, pp.75-
90. [13] M. Al-Harahsheh, S.W. Kingman, “Microwave-Assisted Leaching-A
Review, Hydrometallurgy, Vol. 73, 2004, 189 -203.
[14] K.E. Haque, “Microwave Energy for Mineral Treatment Processes-A
Brief Review”, International Journal of Mineral Processing, Vol. 57,
1999, pp. 1-24.
[15] M. Al-Harahsheh, S. Kingman, “The Influence of Microwaves on the
Leaching Kinetics of Chalcopyrite”, Minerals Engineering, Vol. 18,
2005 pp. 1259-1268.
[1] S. Wang, “Copper Leaching from Chalcopyrite Concentrates.” JOM,
Vol. 7, 2005, pp 48-51.
[2] C. K. Gupta, T. K. Mukherjee, “Hydrometallurgy in Extraction
Processes,” CRC Press. Vol. 1, 1964.
[3] H. R. Watling, “Chalcopyrite Hydrometallurgy at Atmospheric Pressure:
1. Review of Acidic Sulfate, Sulfate–Chloride and Sulfate–Nitrate
Process Options,” Hydrometallurgy, vol. 140, 2013, pp 163-180.
[4] D. Dreisinger, “Copper Leaching from Primary Sulfides: Options for
Biological and Chemical Extraction of Copper,” Hydrometallurgy, Vol.
83, 2006, pp 10-20.
[5] C. Klauber, “A Critical Review of the Surface Chemistry of Acidic
Ferric Sulphate Dissolution of Chalcopyrite with Regards to Hindered
Dissolution,” International Journal of Mineral Processing, Vol. 86,
2008, pp 1-17.
[6] E. M. Córdoba, J. A. Muñoz, M. L. Blázquez, F. González, A. Ballester,
“Leaching of Chalcopyrite with Ferric Ion. Part I: General Aspects, ”
Hydrometallurgy, vol 93,2008, pp 81-87.
[7] S. Aydogan, G. Ucar, M. Canbazoglu, “Dissolution Kinetics of
Chalcopyrite in Acidic Potassium Dichromate Solution”
Hydrometallurgy, vol 81, 2006, pp 45-51.
[8] K. Onol, M.N Saridede, “Investigation on Microwave Heating for Direct
Leaching of Chalcopyrite Ores and Concentrates,” International Journal
of Mineral Metallurgy and Material, Vol. 20, 2013, pp 228-233.
[9] X. Zhai, Q. Wu, Y. Fu, L. Ma, C. Fan, N. Li, “Leaching of Nickel
Laterite Ore Assisted by Microwave Technique” Transactions of
Nonferrous Metals Society of China, Vol. 20, 2010, pp. 77-81.
[10] T. Suoranta, O. Zugazua, M. Niemelä, P. Perämäki, “Recovery of
Palladium, Platinum, Rhodium and Ruthenium from Catalyst Materials
Using Microwave-Assisted Leaching and Cloud Point Extraction,”
Hydrometallurgy, Vol. 154, 2015, pp. 56-62.
[11] G. Chen, J. Chen, J. Peng, R. Wang, “Green Evaluation of Microwave-
Assisted Leaching Process of High Titanium Slag on Life Cycle
Assessment”, Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China, Vol.
20, 2010, pp. 198-204.
[12] D.A. Jones, T.P. Lelyveld, S.D. Mavrofidis, S.W. Kingman, , N.J. Miles,
“Microwave Heating Applications in Environmental Engineering-A
Review”, Resources, Conservation and Recycling, Vol. 34, 2002, pp.75-
90. [13] M. Al-Harahsheh, S.W. Kingman, “Microwave-Assisted Leaching-A
Review, Hydrometallurgy, Vol. 73, 2004, 189 -203.
[14] K.E. Haque, “Microwave Energy for Mineral Treatment Processes-A
Brief Review”, International Journal of Mineral Processing, Vol. 57,
1999, pp. 1-24.
[15] M. Al-Harahsheh, S. Kingman, “The Influence of Microwaves on the
Leaching Kinetics of Chalcopyrite”, Minerals Engineering, Vol. 18,
2005 pp. 1259-1268.
@article{"International Journal of Chemical, Materials and Biomolecular Sciences:70644", author = "Ayfer Kilicarslan and Kubra Onol and Sercan Basit and Muhlis Nezihi Saridede", title = "Comparison of Microwave-Assisted and Conventional Leaching for Extraction of Copper from Chalcopyrite Concentrate", abstract = "Chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) is the most common primary
mineral used for the commercial production of copper. The low
dissolution efficiency of chalcopyrite in sulfate media has prevented
an efficient industrial leaching of this mineral in sulfate media. Ferric
ions, bacteria, oxygen and other oxidants have been used as oxidizing
agents in the leaching of chalcopyrite in sulfate and chloride media
under atmospheric or pressure leaching conditions. Two leaching
methods were studied to evaluate chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) dissolution
in acid media. First, the conventional oxidative acid leaching method
was carried out using sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and potassium
dichromate (K2Cr2O7) as oxidant at atmospheric pressure. Second,
microwave-assisted acid leaching was performed using the
microwave accelerated reaction system (MARS) for same reaction
media. Parameters affecting the copper extraction such as leaching
time, leaching temperature, concentration of H2SO4 and
concentration of K2Cr2O7 were investigated. The results of
conventional acid leaching experiments were compared to the
microwave leaching method. It was found that the copper extraction
obtained under high temperature and high concentrations of oxidant
with microwave leaching is higher than those obtained
conventionally. 81% copper extraction was obtained by the
conventional oxidative acid leaching method in 180 min, with the
concentration of 0.3 mol/L K2Cr2O7 in 0.5M H2SO4 at 50 ºC, while
93.5% copper extraction was obtained in 60 min with microwave
leaching method under same conditions.", keywords = "Extraction, copper, microwave-assisted leaching,
chalcopyrite, potassium dichromate.", volume = "9", number = "9", pages = "1088-4", }