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Leaching kinetics of a Nigerian complex covellite ore by the ammonia-ammonium sulfate solution

  • Separation Technology, Thermodynamics
  • Published:
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Abstract

Hydrometallurgical treatment of copper sulfide ore is increasingly establishing itself as a feasible route for the extraction of copper and recovery of associated precious metals value. This is attributed to the merits of this route, which include suitability for low-grade and complex ores, high recoveries, competitive economics, and other operational features. The leaching kinetics of Nigerian complex covellite ore was investigated in ammonia-ammonium sulfate solution. The concentration of ammonia and ammonium sulfate, the ore particle size, and the temperature were chosen as parameters in the experiments. The results show that temperature, concentration of ammonia-ammonium sulfate has favorable influence on the leaching rate of covellite ores; however, leaching rate decreases with increasing particle size. At optimal conditions (1.75mol/L NH4OH+0.5mol/L (NH4)2SO4, −90+75 μm, 75 °C, with moderate stirring) about 86.2% of copper ore reacted within 120 minutes. The mechanism of the leaching was further established by characterizing the raw ore and the leached residue by EDXRF - chemical composition, SEM - structural morphology and XRD - phase identification studies. From the X-ray diffraction analysis, the partially unreacted Cu and S phases were presumed to be CuO, and the iron present in the CuS phase was mainly converted to hematite (Fe2O3·H2O), as the CuS phase disintegrated and remained in the residue afterward.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Industrial Chemistry, University of Ilorin, P.M.B. 1515, Ilorin, 240003, Nigeria

    Alafara Abdullahi Baba, Ayo Felix Balogun & Folahan Amoo Adekola

  2. Department of Chemistry, University of Ilorin, P.M.B. 1515, Ilorin, 240003, Nigeria

    Daud Temitope Olaoluwa

  3. Nigeria and Department of Science Laboratory Technology, The Federal Polytechnic, P.M.B. 231, Ede, Nigeria

    Daud Temitope Olaoluwa

  4. Department of Geology and Mineral Sciences, University of Ilorin, P.M.B. 1515, Ilorin, 240003, Nigeria

    Rafiu Babatunde Bale

  5. Department of Materials & Metallurgical Engineering, University of Ilorin, P.M.B. 1515, Ilorin, 240003, Nigeria

    Abdul Ganiyu Funsho Alabi

  6. Nigeria and Department of Material Science and Engineering, Kwara State University, P.M.B. 1530, Malete, Nigeria

    Abdul Ganiyu Funsho Alabi

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  1. Alafara Abdullahi Baba
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  2. Ayo Felix Balogun
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  3. Daud Temitope Olaoluwa
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  4. Rafiu Babatunde Bale
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  5. Folahan Amoo Adekola
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  6. Abdul Ganiyu Funsho Alabi
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Correspondence to Alafara Abdullahi Baba.

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Baba, A.A., Balogun, A.F., Olaoluwa, D.T. et al. Leaching kinetics of a Nigerian complex covellite ore by the ammonia-ammonium sulfate solution. Korean J. Chem. Eng. 34, 1133–1140 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-017-0005-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-017-0005-5

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