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Advancements in Removing Fluorine from Copper Concentrate

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A Correction to this article was published on 12 August 2023

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Abstract

Copper concentrates are widely used in smelting operations worldwide and typically consist of chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) as the primary mineral, with chalcocite (Cu2S) and bornite (Cu5FeS4) as secondary copper-bearing minerals. However, these concentrates often contain hazardous impurities, such as the fluorine ion, which can result in various complications during the smelting process. These issues include equipment corrosion, gas treatment requirements, environmental hazards, and strained community relations. Furthermore, high fluorine content in copper concentrates can lead to penalties and limitations during sales. To address these challenges, this comprehensive review assesses current techniques for removing fluorine from copper concentrate. Drawing upon recent research and the findings in the field, the review analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of existing fluorine removal methods and identifies critical issues requiring attention in the future. This review provides valuable insights into the current state of fluorine removal from copper concentrates and serves as a practical guide for researchers and industry professionals in this field.

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Funding

This research received financial support from the Central South University Startup Fund and the National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2022YFC2905104).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China

    Weiping Liu, Yujie Zhao, Junfeng Chen, Muhammad Azam, David Asubonteng, Michael Ngoie, Shangyong Lin & Wei Sun

  2. Hunan International Joint Research Center for Efficient and Clean Utilization of Critical Metal Mineral Resources, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China

    Weiping Liu, Yujie Zhao, Junfeng Chen, Muhammad Azam, David Asubonteng, Michael Ngoie, Shangyong Lin & Wei Sun

  3. Key Laboratory of Hunan Province for Clean and Efficient Utilization of Strategic Calcium-containing Mineral Resource, Center South University, Changsha, 410083, China

    Weiping Liu, Yujie Zhao, Junfeng Chen, Muhammad Azam, David Asubonteng, Michael Ngoie, Shangyong Lin & Wei Sun

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  1. Weiping Liu
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  2. Yujie Zhao
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Correspondence to Weiping Liu.

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Liu, W., Zhao, Y., Chen, J. et al. Advancements in Removing Fluorine from Copper Concentrate. Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration 40, 1487–1497 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42461-023-00820-3

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