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Kinetics of Copper Removal from Sulfidized Molybdenite Concentrates by Pressure Leaching

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Abstract

Molybdenite concentrates produced from porphyry copper deposits contain copper as an impurity in variable quantities. To produce a high-grade molybdenite concentrate, a chemical purification method is normally practiced. In this paper, a new alternative for the copper elimination from molybdenite concentrates containing chalcopyrite by sulfidation of the molybdenite concentrate and subsequent pressure leaching in sulfuric acid-oxygen media is discussed. The results indicated that copper contained in sulfidized molybdenite concentrates can be dissolved effectively by pressure leaching at low temperature ranging from 373 K to 423 K (100 °C to 150 °C) and low oxygen pressure (303.98 to 1013.25 kPa) with negligible dissolution of molybdenum. The final molybdenite contained less than 0.2 pct Cu which is appropriate for marketing. Temperature and oxygen partial pressure have both significant influence on the copper dissolution. The kinetics of the copper dissolution was analyzed using the shrinking core model with surface chemical control. The calculated activation energy was 51 kJ/mol in the range of 373 K to 423 K (100 °C to 150 °C). The copper dissolution rate is of zero order with respect to hydrogen ion concentration, and first order with respect to oxygen partial pressure.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development, FONDECYT, of Chile for the financial support of this study through Project No. 1110590.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Metallurgical Engineering, University of Concepción, Edmundo Larenas 285, Concepción, Chile

    Rafael Padilla (Professor) & Maria C. Ruiz (Professor)

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Concepción, Concepción, Chile

    Cristian Opazo (Student)

Authors
  1. Rafael Padilla
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  2. Cristian Opazo
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  3. Maria C. Ruiz
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Correspondence to Rafael Padilla.

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Manuscript submitted February 5, 2014.

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Padilla, R., Opazo, C. & Ruiz, M.C. Kinetics of Copper Removal from Sulfidized Molybdenite Concentrates by Pressure Leaching. Metall Mater Trans B 46, 30–37 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11663-014-0171-3

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