Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Extraction of copper, zinc and cadmium from copper–cadmium-bearing slag by oxidative acid leaching process

  • Published:
Rare Metals Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

An intensified oxidative acid leaching of copper–cadmium-bearing slag featuring using high-efficient oxygen carrier, such as activated carbon, was investigated to achieve high leaching rate of valuable metals. The effects of leaching variables, including agitation rate, sulfuric acid concentration, temperature, slag particle size, activated carbon and cupric ion concentration, were examined. It is found that leaching rates of cadmium and zinc both exceed 99 % in a very short time, but for copper, leaching rate of 99 % is achieved under the optimized leaching parameters, which are agitation rate of 100 r·min−1, sulfuric acid concentration of 15 wt%, leaching temperature of 80 °C, slag particle size of 48–75 μm, activated carbon concentration of 3 g·L−1, liquid-to-solid ratio of 4:1, oxygen flow rate of 0.16 L·min−1, and leaching time of 60 min. The macro-leaching kinetics of copper metal was analyzed, and it is concluded that the inner diffusion is the controlling step, with apparent activation energy of 18.6 kJ·mol−1. The leaching solution with pH value of 2–4 can be designed to selectively extract valuable metals without neutralization, and the leaching residue can be treated by prevailing Pb smelting process.

Graphical Abstract

The phase compositions of the leaching residue are PbSO4 and CaSO4. And the chemical composition analysis result shows that about 13 % Pb is contained in the residue, which can be recycled by Pb smelting technology in an Isa furnace. The way is that the Pb-containing concentrate and the PbSO4-containing leaching residue can be mixed and placed in the furnace.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Kim T, Senanayake G, Kang J, Sohn J, Rhee K, Lee S, Shin S. Reductive acid leaching of spent zinc–carbon batteries and oxidative precipitation of Mn–Zn ferrite nanoparticles. Hydrometallurgy. 2009;96(1):154.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Babu MN, Sahu K, Pandey B. Zinc recovery from sphalerite concentrate by direct oxidative leaching with ammonium, sodium and potassium persulphates. Hydrometallurgy. 2002;64(2):119.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Li B, Pan DA, Jiang YH, Tian JJ, Zhang SG, Zhang K. Recovery of copper and tin from stripping tin solution by electrodeposition. Rare Met. 2014;33(3):353.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. de Souza AD, Pina PS, Leão VA. Bioleaching and chemical leaching as an integrated process in the zinc industry. Miner Eng. 2007;20(6):591.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Wang MY, Wang XW, Jiang CJ, Tao CF. Solvent extraction of molybdenum from acidic leach solution of Ni–Mo ore. Rare Met. 2014;33(1):107.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Ibarra-Galvan V, López-Valdivieso A, Tong X, Cui YQ. Role of oxygen and ammonium ions in silver leaching with thiosulfate–ammonia–cupric ions. Rare Met. 2013;33(2):225.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Shao Q, Du X, Wang L, Lan RZ. Present status of reutilization of copper–cadmium slag. Chin J Hydrometall. 2003;22(2):66.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Ning Q. Study on the recovery of zinc, cadmium, copper from copper–cadmium slag. Chin J Hydrometall. 1998;1:41.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Kasprzyk-Hordern B, Ziółek M, Nawrocki J. Catalytic ozonation and methods of enhancing molecular ozone reactions in water treatment. Appl Catal-B Environ. 2003;46(4):639.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Rivera-Utrilla J, Sánchez-Polo M, Gómez-Serrano V, Álvarez PM, Alvim-Ferraz MCM, Dias JM. Activated carbon modifications to enhance its water treatment applications. An overview. J Hazard Mater. 2011;187(1–3):1.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Stoeckli HF, Rebstein P, Ballerini L. On the assessment of microporosity in active carbons, a comparison of theoretical and experimental data. Carbon. 1990;28(6):907.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Rodríguez-reinoso F. The role of carbon materials in heterogeneous catalysis. Carbon. 1998;36(3):159.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Laine J, Severino F, Labady M. Optimum Ni composition in sulfided Ni–Mo hydrodesulfurization catalysts: effect of the support. J Catal. 1994;147(1):355.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Laine J, Labady M, Severino F, Yunes S. Sink effect in activated carbon-supported hydrodesulfurization catalysts. J Catal. 1997;166(2):384.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Nunez C, Viñals J. Kinetics of leaching of zinc ferrite in aqueous hydrochloric acid solutions. Metall Mater Trans B. 1984;15(2):221.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Elgersma F, Kamst G, Witkamp G, van Rosmalen G. Acidic dissolution of zinc ferrite. Hydrometallurgy. 1992;29(1):173.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Elgersma F, Witkamp GJ, van Rosmalen GM. Kinetics and mechanism of reductive dissolution of zinc ferrite in H2O and D2O. Hydrometallurgy. 1993;33(1–2):165.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Langová Š, Leško J, Matýsek D. Selective leaching of zinc from zinc ferrite with hydrochloric acid. Hydrometallurgy. 2009;95(3):179.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Bobeck GE, Su H. The kinetics of dissolution of sphalerite in ferric chloride solution. Metall Mater Trans B. 1985;16(3):413.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Zhang Y, Li X, Pan L, Liang X, Li X. Studies on the kinetics of zinc and indium extraction from indium-bearing zinc ferrite. Hydrometallurgy. 2010;100(3):172.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Kim J, Kaurich TA, Sylvester P, Gonzalez-Martin A. Enhanced selective leaching of chromium from radioactive sludges. Sep Sci Technol. 2006;41(1):179.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Dutrizac J. The leaching of sulphide minerals in chloride media. Hydrometallurgy. 1992;29(1):1.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Aydogan S, Aras A, Canbazoglu M. Dissolution kinetics of sphalerite in acidic ferric chloride leaching. Chem Eng J. 2005;114(1):67.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Tindall G, Bruckenstein S. Determination of heterogeneous equilibrium constants by chemical stripping at a ring-disk electrode. Evaluation of the equilibrium constant for the reaction copper + copper(II) → 2copper(I) in 0.2 M sulfuric acid. Anal Chem. 1968;40(10):1402.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Mokmeli M, Wassink B, Dreisinger D. Equilibrium cuprous concentrations in copper sulfate–sulfuric acid solutions containing 50–110 g/L Cu2+ and 10–200 g/L H2SO4 at 50–95°C. Hydrometallurgy. 2012;2012(121–124):100.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Ciavatta L, Ferri D, Palombari R. On the equilibrium Cu2+ + Cu(s) ⇄ 2Cu+. J Inorg Nucl Chem. 1980;42(4):593.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Desmarquest JP, Trinh-Dinh C, Bloch O. Determination of normal electrochemical potentials of redox couples reducers Cu2+/Cu+ and Cu+/Cu0 in methanol. J Inorg Nucl Chem. 1970;27(1):101.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Radovic LR. Chemistry and Physics of Carbon. New York: CRC Press; 2000. 121.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Rodrıguez-Reinoso F, Molina-Sabio M. Textural and chemical characterization of microporous carbons. Adv Colloid Interface. 1998;76:271.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Randin J-P, Yeager E. Differential capacitance study on the edge orientation of pyrolytic graphite and glassy carbon electrodes. J Electroanal Chem. 1975;58(2):313.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Derbyshire F, De Beer V, Abotsi G, Scaroni A, Solar J, Skrovanek D. The influence of surface functionality on the activity of carbon-supported catalysts. Appl Catal. 1986;27(1):117.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Boehm H. Some aspects of the surface chemistry of carbon blacks and other carbons. Carbon. 1994;32(5):759.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Hossain M, Tryk D, Yeager E. The electrochemistry of graphite and modified graphite surfaces: the reduction of O2. Electrochim Acta. 1989;34(12):1733.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Tatsumi H, Nakase H, Kano K, Ikeda T. Mechanistic study of the autoxidation of reduced flavin and quinone compounds. J Electroanal Chem. 1998;443(2):236.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Ossowski T, Pipka P, Liwo A, Jeziorek D. Electrochemical and UV-spectrophotometric study of oxygen and superoxide anion radical interaction with anthraquinone derivatives and their radical anions. Electrochim Acta. 2000;45(21):3581.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. He S, Wang J, Yan J. Pressure leaching of synthetic zinc silicate in sulfuric acid medium. Hydrometallurgy. 2011;108(3):171.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Ryczaj K, Riesenkampf W. Kinetics of the dissolution of zinc-magnesium ferrites in sulphuric acid solutions related to zinc leach processes. Hydrometallurgy. 1983;11(3):363.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Lan ZY, Hu YH, Liu JS, Wang J. Solvent extraction of copper and zinc from bioleaching solutions with LIX984 and D2EHPA. J Cent South Univ Technol. 2005;12(1):45.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Reddy BR, Priya DN. Process development for the separation of copper(II), nickel(II) and zinc(II) from sulphate solutions by solvent extraction using LIX 84 I. Sep Purif Technol. 2005;45(2):163.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Owusu G. Selective extraction of copper from acidic zinc sulfate leach solution using LIX 622. Hydrometallurgy. 1999;51(1):1.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Gupta B, Deep A, Malik P. Extraction and recovery of cadmium using Cyanex 923. Hydrometallurgy. 2001;61(1):65.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Gouvea LR, Morais CA. Recovery of zinc and cadmium from industrial waste by leaching/cementation. Miner Eng. 2007;20(9):956.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Mellah A, Benachour D. The solvent extraction of zinc and cadmium from phosphoric acid solution by di-2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid in kerosene diluent. Chem Eng Process. 2006;45(8):684.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Pereira DD, Rocha SDF, Mansur MB. Recovery of zinc sulphate from industrial effluents by liquid–liquid extraction using D2EHPA (di-2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid). Sep Purif Technol. 2007;53(1):89.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. He S, Wang J, Yan J. Pressure leaching of high silica Pb–Zn oxide ore in sulfuric acid medium. Hydrometallurgy. 2010;104(2):235.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the National Science & Technology Pillar Program during the Twelfth Five-Year Plan Period of China (No. 2012BAC12B01) and the Major Scientific and Technological Special Project of Hunan Province, China (No. 2012FJ1010).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Metallurgy, Northeastern University, Shenyang, 110819, China

    Meng Li

  2. National Engineering Laboratory for Hydrometallurgical Cleaner Production Technology, Key Laboratory of Green Process and Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China

    Meng Li, Ying Zhang, Xiao-Hui Wang, Shan Qiao, Shi-Li Zheng & Yi Zhang

  3. School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China

    Jian-Guang Yang

Authors
  1. Meng Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ying Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Xiao-Hui Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jian-Guang Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Shan Qiao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Shi-Li Zheng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Yi Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shi-Li Zheng.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Li, M., Zhang, Y., Wang, XH. et al. Extraction of copper, zinc and cadmium from copper–cadmium-bearing slag by oxidative acid leaching process. Rare Met. 40, 1–10 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12598-016-0759-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12598-016-0759-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation