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Dissolution characteristics of sericite in chalcopyrite bioleaching and its effect on copper extraction

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Abstract

The effects of sericite particle size, rotation speed, and leaching temperature on sericite dissolution and copper extraction in a chalcopyrite bioleaching system were examined. Finer particles, appropriate temperature and rotation speed for Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans resulted in a higher Al3+ dissolution concentration. The Al3+ dissolution concentration reached its highest concentration of 38.66 mg/L after 48-d leaching when the sericite particle size, temperature, and rotation speed were −43 μm, 30°C, and 160 r/min, respectively. Meanwhile, the sericite particle size, rotation speed, and temperature can affect copper extraction. The copper extraction rate is higher when the sericite particle size is finer. An appropriately high temperature is favorable for copper leaching. The dissolution of sericite fitted the shrinking core model, 1–(2/3)α–(1–α)2/3 = k 1 t, which indicates that internal diffusion is the decision step controlling the overall reaction rate in the leaching process. Scanning electron microscopy analysis showed small precipitates covered on the surface of sericite after leaching, which increased the diffusion resistance of the leaching solution and dissolved ions.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51204011) and the Science and Technology Project for the Guidance Teacher of Beijing Excellent Doctoral Dissertation (No. 20121000803).

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  1. School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China

    Ying-bo Dong, Hao Li, Hai Lin & Yuan Zhang

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  1. Ying-bo Dong
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  2. Hao Li
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  4. Yuan Zhang
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Correspondence to Hai Lin.

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Dong, Yb., Li, H., Lin, H. et al. Dissolution characteristics of sericite in chalcopyrite bioleaching and its effect on copper extraction. Int J Miner Metall Mater 24, 369–376 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-017-1416-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-017-1416-3

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